Ethel Mae Schneberger
December 2, 1928 ~ September 29, 2025
Ethel Mae Schneberger age 96 of New Hampton, IA, died Monday, September 29, 2025, at Bartels Lutheran Home in Waverly.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 4, 2025, at Holy Family Parish, New Hampton, with Rev. Chris Podhajsky celebrating the Mass. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, New Hampton.
Friends may greet the family 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, October 3, 2025, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton where there will be a 4:30 p.m. rosary open to the public. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at the church on Saturday.
Ethel Mae Schneberger was born December 2, 1928, on the family farm near St. Lucas, IA, the youngest of eleven children born to Alphonse & Elizabeth (Reicks) Huber. She graduated from Lawler High School in 1945. In 1963, she graduated from Upper Iowa College in Fayette, IA.
Ethel Mae married Kenneth Schneberger on December 28, 1950. The couple initially lived near Festina and Jerico for a time then made their home in Alta Vista for many years until moving to New Hampton for the later years of their lives. The couple had four children, Diann, June, Lynn and John. Ethel Mae’s tenants in life were her religious faith, providing for her family, serving others in the community and being outgoing and generous to all those she encountered.
Ethel Mae had a natural curiosity and loved to learn. She was a strong, hard working woman and shared her knowledge with her children. She would have loved being a pioneer and travel across the old west in a wagon train. Ethel Mae began her teaching career in 1954, first teaching in country schools near Lawler. Ethel Mae retired in 1995, after teaching 36 years in Alta Vista and New Hampton. She taught many different grades, with kindergarten being her favorite. She loved being a teacher and every one of her students was special to her. She referred to her kindergarten kids as her little sweeties.
She is survived by her children; Diann (Dennis) Brillon of Cour d’Alene, ID, June Schneberger of San Antonio, TX, Lynn (Dean) Campbell of Waverly, John (Jennifer Koehler) Schneberger of Ankeny; grandchildren, Theresa (Alan) Stalnaker, Elizabeth (Jesse) Wenisch, Anthony (Chelsey) Campbell, Laura (Jesse) Barber, Rachel Schneberger; six great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth; brothers, Art (Catherine) Huber, Henry (Hilda) Huber; sisters, Marie (Leo) Wenthold, Alma (Greg) Uhlenhake, Phyllis Lechtenberg, Lorraine Fisher and four siblings that died in infancy.
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I enjoyed working at school with Ethel Mae. She was wonderful to work with and I learned a lot from her. We were a great team. I am on vacation so will miss the visitation and funeral. My thoughts and prayers are with you all! Barb
Mine and so many others kindergarten teacher. She was the best in every way. Going to miss seeing her at Kensington. All my prayers to her family. Jeanne(Geerts) Roder
John – I’m so sorry to read of your mom’s passing. So many Alta Vista kids remember her fondly as their kindergarten teacher. She touched so many lives and that is truly a tribute to her. My deepest sympathy to you, Diane, June and Lynn.
So sorry to hear this. When I first started teaching she was my mentor (before mentoring was a thing) when I started teaching kindergarten and she moved to third grade at Alta Vista. Then we both taught kindergarten at New Hampton. She was a wonderful person and teacher, who always had others needs close at heart. We had a lot of nice talks when we carpooled (Ethel Mae, Donna Cashman, and myself). We were coworkers, parishioners together at St. Bernard’s, and friends. I overheard someone in the grocery store at the beginning of a school year, telling that their child would be in Mrs. Schneberger’s class and that “she is just a peach”. I couldn’t agree more. Our sympathies to all of her family. Lynn and Lyle Ries
Please accept our sympathy. She was a great teacher!
So sorry to hear about Ethel’s passing! She was wonderful to teach with and we became good friends. She had my daughter in her class! She was a great teacher.
On behalf of the NHHS Class of 1969, our condolences to the Schneberger Family.
You have our deepest Sympathy. What a sweet lady that liked to talk if you had a minute and always enjoyed the visit with her. Her smile was contagious. She will be missed by all who knew her.
Hugs sent
Extending our deepest sympathies to all of Ethel Mae’s family. She certainly made the world a better place and truly gained her wings. May she rest in eternal peace.
June, Lynn, Diane, and John…our deepest condolences to you. Your mom was a wonderful, kind hearted person, a great teacher, and friend. Will remember the many yrs your parents were neighbors to Tom’s dad and mom in AV. Lots of good times. Unfortunately we won’t be able to attend the visitation and funeral as we are on vacation. Hugs to you all and cherish your beautiful memories of your lovely mother. May she rest in peace.🙏
Such a spunky lady and educator. Life well lived.
So sorry for your loss. Ethel was a wonderful person and a great teacher! My son was in her kindergarten class. He was a bit put off that she retired and he couldn’t go back the next year and see her! Ethel saw in the paper that Craig was having an open house for his Eagle Scout award ceremony and she came to it! So sweet of her! She would ask how our boy was whenever we saw each other!❤️ Ethel will be missed. Prayers and sympathy to her family.
If I was a great person and a teacher, she made many children succeed in their school careers. May the family grab onto the Lord and allow him to comfort them during this time of grief.
Dear Lynn,
I was blessed to work with your Mother at school for several years. She always had a smile to share.
Bill and I also saw her at Kensington Place when we were visiting our mothers. She is now in the arms of
Jesus. You and your family are in our prayers.
Deb and Bill Hansen
My deepest sympathy to Ethel’s family. I came to know your mom when your dad was a resident in the nursing home. He and my uncle would share military stories, as my uncle also grew up in St. Lucas. Your dad also told many baseball stories. Your mom would happen by when we were visiting and I always loved her sweet disposition n warm smile. After my uncle passed I continued on occasion to drop in and visit your dad n then your mom but my visits became fewer as life pulled me in different directions. Just wanted to share that your folks were great people n they had a great way of always making others feel blessed.
My deepest sympathies to all who knew and loved Ethel Mae. May she rest peacefully in God’s grace, mercy and glory.
Lynn & Dean, I know losing one’s Mom is very emotional, regardless of age. But the great memories are forever and I’m sure your family will lean on them as you both mourn, yet celebrate, her life and legacy. My thoughts are with you today. Ed Kennedy
Diann, June, Lynn and John, my sincere condolences to you and family. Even though I was quite young, I remember very clearly the first time Kenny brought your mother to the farm. She sat in a chair right before going in the parlor. She was so kind to me, and I really enjoyed talking to her. It was really great that so many people have written in admiration of her teaching skills. She also was a wonderful mother, evidenced by how great you kids turned out. My thoughts are with you. Duane
This is such a good picture of Ethel; she had the nicest smile! It was amazing how she remembered her students after so many years. She was a special lady and will be missed. So sorry for your loss.
We are so grateful to have called Ethel Mae and Kenny aunt and uncle! They were always there for everyone! Ethyl Mae was my rock when mom and dad needed help in their later years. There were so many stories and laughs the Huber sisters shared when they got together! Sending our love to their family.
Our condolences and prayers go out to Ethel’s family. I feel fortunate to had done business with Ethel and Ken.
Always a pleasant and good time.
My condolences to the family. Mrs Schneberger was one of my teachers while I attended school in New Hampton. She was a very nice lady.
You have our deepest sympathy.