Edith M. Schneider, the daughter of Anton and Cecilia Heese Finken, was born on August 24, 1919, at Earling, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph?s Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. Edith graduated from St. Joseph?s Catholic School.

On August 6, 1941, Edith was united in marriage to Elmer Schneider at St. Joseph?s Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. Six children were born to this union: Karen, Debra, Daryl, Douglas, Diane and Dean. After their marriage, the couple farmed for over forty years east of Westphalia, Iowa. In 1981, the couple retired but continued to live on the farm. Elmer died on December 28, 1984. After Elmer?s death, Edith continued to reside on the family farm, until October 6, 2005.

Edith was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia, and enjoyed gardening, bowling, golfing, and watching baseball. She also like doing word search puzzles, dancing, and watching old movies.

She died on Sunday, October 23, 2005, at Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of eighty-six years one month and thirty days. In addition to her parents and her husband, Elmer, Edith was preceded in death by two children: Karen and Douglas; her brothers and sisters, Theoletta, Sylvester "Tootie," Austin, Irene, Vera, Doris, Denny and Tony, Jr.

Survivors include her children: Debra and her husband, Clair Rose of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Daryl Schneider and his wife, Joy of Denison, Iowa; Diane and her husband, Angel Freytez of Omaha, Nebraska; Dean Schneider and his wife, Joan of Maryville, Missouri; her six grandchildren: David Rose, Katie, Stephen and Boston Schneider, Alan and Bryanna Lahoda; four step-grandchildren: Connie Brummer, Annie, Joe and John Ensminger; her sister, Marie Ebert of El Paso, Texas; her brother, Ivo Finken and his wife, Mildred "Mick" of Earling, Iowa; her in-laws: Betty Finken, Luella Kloewer, Vera Nelson, Joseph Leuschen and Mildred and Andy Bruck; other relatives and many friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday, October 26, 2005, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia, Iowa, at10:30 A.M. with Rev. John Dorton officiating. Interment was in St. Boniface Cemetery in Westphalia, Iowa, with Daniel Ebert, Stephen Schneider, Alan LaHoda, Joe Ensminger, Boston Schneider, John Ensminger, and David Rose serving as honorary casket bearers. Serving as casket bearers were Ron Finken, Roger Munchrath, Dean Finken, Jerome Schneider, Allen Schneider and Patrick Goeser.