White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Independence – Loretta J. Schumacher, 91 years old, of Independence, IA, died of natural causes, Monday, June 14, 2021, at NewAldaya Lifescapes, Cedar Falls, IA.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. - Friday, June 18, 2021, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Independence, with Pastor Kristen Corr Rod officiating. Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m., in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, 2978 225th St., Williamsburg, IA.

Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. until services on Friday, June 18th, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Independence. Memorials will be directed to the church.

Loretta Johanna Maas was born July 23, 1929, in Williamsburg, IA, the daughter of Edwin G. Maas and Martha (Sandersfeld) Maas. Loretta attended grammar school in Williamsburg, but was unable to further her formal education until later in life. Her determination paid off and in 1970 she officially obtained her high school diploma from Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, IA.

On October 3, 1948, Loretta was united in marriage to Lloyd Edward Schumacher in Williamsburg. The couple farmed in Iowa and Linn Counties before buying and moving to their farm in Independence. Lloyd preceded her in death on September 3, 1991. In her early years, Loretta was very busy as a farm wife, raising six children. She felt her most important career was as wife and mother. She later worked in the food service department at the Mental Health Institute in Independence and at the Buchanan County Senior Center. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Independence, where she sang in the choir, taught Sunday School and was active in the Ladies Guild. Loretta liked to be active in her community, but most of all, she enjoyed the friendships and camaraderie that came with sharing her talents. Loretta’s hobbies were reading, painting and sewing. She sewed clothes until her family was grown and then took up quilting. She taught quilting for many years and was one of the founders of the Independence Calico Cut-ups Quilt Guild. She made quilts for each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, often to mark special events. Spending time with her grandchildren gave her the greatest joy.

Loretta is survived by her four sons, Wayne (Margaret) Schumacher of Broken Arrow, OK, Steven (Jo) Schumacher of Rowley, IA, Robert (Karen) Schumacher of Jesup, IA, James (Connie) Schumacher of Williamsburg, IA; two daughters, Connie (Warren) Verdeck of Waukee, IA, and Cathy (Don) Michels of Waterloo, IA; 19 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; one brother, Harvey Maas of Mesa, AZ; and one sister, Arlene Vondracek of Clutier, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and one son, Michael Ray Schumacher, in infancy in 1958.

White Funeral Home, Independence, IA, is in charge of arrangements.