Grace Schachenmeier

Grace was born to Paul and Anna (Nannen) Miller in Clatonia, Nebraska on December 10, 1910. She joined two brothers in the home, Edwin and Melvin. Her family attended Emmanuel Methodist Church north of Clatonia. There she gained an appreciation and love for gospel hymns which she passed onto her daughter and grandchildren.

As a child, Grace loved school. She attended District 50 country school, 3 miles from her home. At the end of her 8th grade year, and after receiving an award for academic achievement, her schooling ended. Her desire was to continue on to high school but her family needed her help on the farm. Then began the sun-up to sun-down work in the fields. Grace husked corn by hand, picked weeds in the field, and helped her mother prepare meals. Many times Grace was asked what the secret of her long life was and she would respond, “Hard work!”

Grace loved to play the piano. Her family was able to obtain a piano and Grace walked 2 miles one way during the summer to take lessons. She became a gifted pianist. Her niece, Betty Miller Reischlein, would walk up to her farm just to sit on the bench next to her to hear her play.

On February 26, 1930 she married Walter Martin Schachenmeier. During their marriage they attended Zion Lutheran Church in Clatonia. They farmed in Clatonia until their move to Colorado in 1961. They enjoyed nearly 57 years of wedded bliss until Walter’s passing in 1987.

One child was born to Walter and Grace, a daughter, Lois Ann, in 1932. When Grace was asked what it was like to be blessed with a child, her response was, “It was like Heaven came down to earth.” Lois Ann departed this life in 2008. Grace took great strength in her Lord and is now experiencing that joyous reunion.

Grace was an excellent cook. We all looked forward to her weekly delivery of homemade bread and cinnamon rolls. She adapted the kolache recipe from the Czech people in Wilber to include apricot filling with whipped cream which will live on forever in our family’s shared memories of her. She was also an avid gardener and was awarded Golden’s finest award one year when she didn’t even know she was competing!

Her gentle spirit will be missed by her four grandchildren, their spouses, and devoted son-in-law, Boyd Also blessed to have known her as “Gram” are 8 great grandchildren, and 11 great great grandchildren and numerous extended family members. Her legacy is a blessing to all who knew her!

We thank all of you for your many expressions of sympathy and for sharing in our joy in knowing that Grace now rests with her Savior and those family members that have gone before her. We thank the Lord for his manifold work of salvation!

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” I Corinthians 2:9