Mary Schroeder

Surrounded by her family, Mary Georgia (Gillooly) Schroeder, 83, passed away on March 7, 2026, in Fishers, Indiana, after a journey with Alzheimer’s and battling a rare neurological disorder for nearly three decades. She will be remembered lovingly for her courage, strength, and positive attitude to live each day to the fullest.

Mary was born on February 24, 1943, to Paul and Lillian (Wieck) Gillooly in Clinton, Iowa. Mary was an adored wife to Dale Schroeder (Blue Grass, Iowa) and a beloved mother to Brenda Schmidt (Fishers, Indiana) and Jennifer Schmidt (Fishers, Indiana). Her siblings include Karen (Jim) Gabbert, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Dale (Mary) Gillooly, Tucson, Arizona; Jerry Gillooly (deceased) and Carol (John) Hawkins (deceased).

Mary grew up in Davenport and, by all accounts, was a city girl in her youth. She worked retail and then began her twenty-five-year career with Davenport Bank before marrying Kent Schmidt (deceased), and then moved to Durant, Iowa, where she was introduced to small-town and rural life.

In 1979, she married Dale Schroeder. Mary and her two young daughters moved to the Edandale family homestead and dairy farm outside of Blue Grass, Iowa. While she continued her career at the bank, she embraced the new lifestyle of farm life. She is remembered fondly for hosting large family holiday gatherings and notably for cooking - her chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, grape jelly, and her homemade ketchup were treasured delights from Mary’s kitchen.

Dale and Mary retired from the farm in 2003. Her passion for gardening followed her through retirement, where she maintained a beautiful flower garden. In retirement, Dale and Mary enjoyed traveling with family and friends, exploring the Northeast, Alaska, many Midwest sites, national parks, and visiting their daughters. Mary maintained an active social life through various card clubs, was active at the YMCA, and was a member of the Blue Grass Presbyterian Church.

In 2022, Mary and Dale moved to Fishers, Indiana, to be near their daughters.

Private services will be held followed by a Celebration of Life on Saturday, March 14 from 1-4pm at the Blue Grass Legion (106 S. Juniata Street, Blue Grass, IA 52726). In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Mary’s honor to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org).