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Obituary for Donna Edith Schardein
Donna Edith Schardein, 96, of Indianola, formerly of Earlham, Iowa passed away November 14, 2014 at the Good Samaritan Home. Funeral services will be held 2:00 P.M. Friday, November 21 at the Johnson Family Funeral Home in Earlham. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 1:00 to 2:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Burial will follow the service in the Earlham City Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Donna Schardein Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of, Johnson Family Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Donna was born April 21, 1918 at Hatfield, Missouri, Harrison County. She was the fourth child of William Elmer and Nellie Ruth (Todd) Jones. She graduated from Hatfield High School in 1935.
On February 22, 1936, she was united in marriage to Neil Schardein at Grant City, Missouri. That same year they moved to Earlham, Iowa to begin farming. In addition to helping on the farm, she was employed by the Earlham Savings Bank and the Farmers Cooperative Elevator as bookkeeper.
Donna was best known for her piano playing. It all started one Sunday morning in their little country church in Missouri. After services, she walked over to the upright piano, sat down and picked out the song “Home, Sweet Home”. She was 10 years old and, until then, no one knew she could play by ear. She joined the Indianola Music Makers in 1990. This group of ladies performed for various clubs and nursing homes in the area. She was their main piano player and filled in on drums occasionally. Music was one of her greatest joys in life and was still playing well into her 90’s. Unfortunately, profound hearing loss quieted the piano. As she put it, “my ears are out of tune”.
She was dedicated to her family and was always supportive of her children’s school and sport activities.
Survivors include her three children, Barbara Mendenhall and Beverly (Steven) Welshhons, both of Indianola, Iowa, and Keith (Kay) Schardein of Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is survived by four grandchildren, Michael (Nyla Kenne) Welshhons, and Katie Welshhons (Bryan DeJoode), both of Indianola, Iowa, Kristen (Brian) Fox of Alameda, California and Adam (Hilary) Schardein of Santa Clarita, California and one step-grandchild Nacia Owens of Holly Springs, North Carolina. Also surviving are three great-grandchildren, Lily and Colt Schardein, and Wyatt Fox, plus many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters, Audrey, Helen, Alice Dale, brother, Arlo, and son-in-law, Ralph Mendenhall.
