Ava M. (Schneider) Elder was born on May 19, 1909 near Frankfort, KS. She passed away on February 20, 2007 at her home in Elm Heights Care Center in Shenandoah, IA, at the age of 97 years. Her parents were John C. and Leona M. (Thacker) Schneider. Ava attended rural schools near Frankfort and graduated from Frankfort High School. She attended Peru College in Peru, NE and Maryville College in Maryville, MO and obtained her teaching certificate. She taught in rural schools in Kansas and Missouri before moving to Hamburg, IA.

She worked at the Iowa State Bank in Hamburg, IA for 23 years before retiring to Rock Port, MO in 1974 to be closer to her daughter Jean and her family. After retiring she enjoyed being a Snow Bird and traveling to Phoenix, AZ to visit a lifelong friend, and Daly City, CA and Pensacola, FL to visit her brothers and their families. She also enjoyed her church activities, visiting with friends and being involved with all her daughter and grandchildren’s activities.

She was active in the First Christian Church in Rock Port and was a Sunday School Teacher and involved in Christian Women’s Fellowship, and Madonna Circle. She had also served on the Nutrition Site Council in Rock Port.

In 1998, she moved to Shenandoah, IA to be closer to her family. While living at Elm Heights, she enjoyed playing BINGO, spiritual activities, playing trivia, and seeing plays her grandchildren were in. She also enjoyed frequent visits by her grandchildren and especially when her great-grandchildren would visit.

She is survived by her grandchildren, Duane A. Schierkolk and wife Kimberly of Shenandoah, IA, Darren E. Schierkolk of Denver, CO, and Marjorie A. Schierkolk of Shenandoah, IA and son-in-law Donald E. Schierkolk of Rock Port, MO. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Caleb H. Schierkolk and Ciara J. Schierkolk of Shenandoah, IA.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Levi Clifford Schneider, John R. Schneider, her sister Marjorie E. Dick, her daughter Marjorie Jean Schierkolk and great-grandson Wyat A. Schierkolk. She was also preceded in death by Harry Elder.

Services:  10:00 AM Friday, February 23, 2007, Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port
Burial: Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Kansas
The family will receive friends from 9:00 – 9:45 AM prior to the funeral.
Memorials: Ava Elder Memorial Fund.