Funeral services for Wilma M. Scheuermann, 88, of Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, formerly of Cooper and Jefferson, Iowa will be held at 3:00pm Thursday May 1, 2008 at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson.  Interment will be in the Jefferson Cemetery.  Friends are invited to visit with the family at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson on Thursday from 12 noon until the 3:00pm funeral service.  

Wilma Mercedes (Hollar) Scheuermann was born March 23, 1920, east of Bagley, IA, in Dodge Township of Guthrie County. She was the fourth of six children born to Onas and Mary (Athey) Hollar. Many of her relatives only knew her by the nickname, “Dick”. Her family moved to Franklin Township where she began her education. After her first year of school, the family moved back to Guthrie County where she continued her education at Herndon, IA, and received her 8th Grade Diploma on May 15th, 1933, from Guthrie Center, IA. She continued her high school years at Franklin Township Consolidated High School and received her High School Diploma on May 18th, 1937.

Through friends, she met Roy Scheuermann.  In a double marriage ceremony with Carl and Marie (Scheuermann) Hansen, she was united in marriage to Roy on Dec. 18th, 1944 at Princeton, MO. Three children were born to this union - Darrell, Donna and Linda. Wilma and Roy were unknowingly pioneers in the advancement of individuals with Mental Retardation. Professionals encouraged them to place their second child in a state institution.

After touring this unthinkable environment (by today’s standards), they decided to keep their child in their home. Unlike today, there was no special education in the public school systems at that time. The Catholic School of Grand Junction, IA, invited Donna to attend school. Twice daily, they drove 30 miles round-trip to help Donna receive socialization and an education.
She and her husband farmed in the Cooper area until 1980. Wilma enjoyed spending time with her family, cooking, canning, candy making, reading recipes, f1ower and vegetable gardening, going on picnics and participating in bonfires, fishing, spending time in the woods mushroom hunting and going on rides in the country. She was a member of the Cooper Methodist Church and a 4-H Leader. In 1981, she and her husband retired from farming and moved to Jefferson, IA. After the death of her husband in 1999, she moved to St. William’s Assisted Living (McCornell Court) on July 1, 2001. This is six blocks from her daughter and son-in-law’s home in Parkers Prairie, MN. She was the first resident to move into this new complex to be followed the next day by a new friend. She resided from July 1, 2001 until February 13th, 2008 at McCornell Court. She then was admitted to St. William’s Living Center due to needing more nursing care. Many “Thank Yous” go out to this lovely place and the Parkers Prairie Medical Center for the excellent care provided by the staff members. Wilma passed away on Thursday, April 22, 2008 at St. William's Living Center.  She is survived by her three children; Darrell (Martha) Scheuermann of Cooper, IA; Donna Scheuermann of Carroll, IA; and Linda (Rich) Schaffer of Parkers Prairie, MN.

Grandchildren, Melynda (Dan) Harjes of Stillwater, MN and their children, Austin, Dylan and Anne; Dr. Troy (Ralinda) Scheuermann of Keosauqua, IA and their children, Taryn and Kaitlyn; Rev. Traci (Rev. Will) Houts of Milwaukee, WI and child Grace; Sonya (Joel) Jacobs of St. Cloud, MN and their children, Mykenzie and Kole; one sister-in-law, Mrs. Don (Elsie) Hutchinson of Jefferson, IA, and many family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Scheuermann; parents, Onas and Mary (Athey) Hollar; mother and father-in-law, Katherine and Frederick Scheuermann; two sisters, Bernice Flook and Mary Athey; three brothers, Harold Hollar, Gerald Hollar and Frances Hollar; nine brother-in-laws Don Hutchinson, Carl Hansen, Roy Flook, Frank Scheuermann, George Scheuermann, Fred Scheuermann, Albert Scheuermann, Walter Scheuermann and Clarence Scheuermann; and seven sisters-in-law; Juanita Hollar, Rosie Hollar, Ilene (Clarence) Scheuermann, Hazel (Fred) Scheuermann, Hazel (Frank) Scheuermann, Irene Scheuermann and Marie Hansen.