Rosa Schemmel
Rosa Isabelle (Gresham) SchemmelSchemmel, Rosa Isabelle (Gresham), 93, passed away February 26, 2018, in Mission Viejo, California. She and her husband, Louis Charles Schemmel, had relocated from Wichita, Kansas to California in 2010 to be closer to several of their daughters living in the southern California area. Rosa was born in Ware Shoals, South Carolina on October 9, 1924 to Bessie Belle Hill and Claude Gresham, Sr. She had three sisters and one brother and is survived by her sister Ruth Gresham Bedingfield. After growing up in South Carolina, she lived in Washington D.C., where she worked for the CIA. She met her husband, Louis, in Virginia Beach in 1952, and they married in October 1952, before moving to Chicago and then to Wichita, Kansas.Rosa enjoyed a number of sports activities, including horse-back riding, tennis (she played competitive and tournament tennis into her 70’s) and she competed in the Senior Olympics in swimming. She was a life-long animal lover, rescued and adopted many cats and dogs over the years, and was an ardent supporter of animal welfare groups. Survivors include her four daughters Lou Ann Schemmel, Diane Schemmel Goostree, Nancy Schemmel Whitney, and Patricia Schemmel Terry. She is also survived by four grandchildren: Levi and Jeremy Sternberg, Jonathan Schemmel Goostree and Emily Gresham Terry. Memorial contributions (in lieu of flowers) may be made to the Wichita Action Animal League at https://www.waalrescue.org.
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Some of the best memories of my childhood were visiting Rosa and her husband Lou in Wichita. There were many Christmases and Thanksgivings with several family members. Lots of good times swimming in the pool, going down the water slide, playing a wide variety of games from Poker to Spoons to board games, to catching fireflies in the backyard. I am thankful that I was able to have those great experiences with Rosa and many other family members. She was always a very loving person who would say what was on her mind. She was also a big lover of animals who treated all the different cats and dogs she had over the years as members of the family, being a lover of animals myself I cannot help but think she rubbed off on me. I am happy that she was able to live such a long life and that she was a great part of so many other people’s lives. She will be missed by me and many others.
Rosa was, without a doubt, my favorite Aunt and someone who I loved and respected. Her positive loving nature was an inspiration and I remember enjoying any visit that I had with her. I have fond childhood memories of visiting her and my Uncle Lou and all my cousins in Wichita. She always made me laugh and I like to think that a little of her great sense of humor and positive spirit rubbed off on me during my formative years. Many years later, it was such a pleasure for me and my wife Cindy to visit with Rosa in California. She still had the same unflagging spirit and warm, caring attitude that I remembered. Bless her and all the wonderful memories that her family and so many others must have of being with her.
We are so very saddened to read of the death of your dear loved one. Please accept my family’s heartfelt condolences. Out of all the things that afflict humans, the pain of death is truly indescribable. May you find peace and comfort in knowing that The Almighty God promises in his word The Bible, that shortly He will wipe every tear from our eyes ,and death… will be no more.
Dear Diane, I am sorry to hear about your Mother. I lost mine 4 yrs ago and miss her terribly. We are so lucky to have had great mothers and what a wonderful generation they all are. I see where you get your beauty and talents!My thought are with you , Love, Katie Myer Lukens
Katie, thanks so much for reaching out and taking the time to post such a nice message. I truly appreciate the kind thoughts; I hope all is well with you and yours– Diane
Tom Gresham
“That’s my father, Grits Gresham, with his sister, Rosa, as they looked through photo albums and talked about their youth. Rosa was smart, talented, athletic, and caring. She raised a great family while doing more than most ever knew. I just love her smile in this photo. She will be missed, but she leaves a strong legacy.”
Diane Schemmel Goostree
Thoughts and remembrances about my Mom… Mom loved to read and instilled in all of us an interest in reading and education. I remember her taking us to the public library as children and us all staggering out with armloads of books. She continued that theme with her four grandchildren, reading both old and new favorites again and again. She was a true Southern Belle, going through life with grace and style, supporting her family while quietly excelling at everything she did. She helped our father build the family business—”Big Lou’s”, was a competitive tennis player (everyone wanted to be on her side for those backyard badminton games!), was an excellent bridge player and enjoyed ballroom dancing. She believed in family and traditions and encouraged each of her children to follow their own path, wherever it might lead. Mom was an advocate for animals (we grew up with many, many dogs, cats and other animals) and led by example in treating everyone around her with innate politeness and respect. Mom, thank you for all your support and love for your family, and may you rest in peace.
From Tom Gresham, Rosa’s nephew:
“That’s my father, Grits Gresham, with his sister, Rosa, as they looked through photo albums and talked about their youth. Rosa was smart, talented, athletic, and caring. She raised a great family while doing more than most ever knew. I just love her smile in this photo. She will be missed, but she leaves a strong legacy.”
Tom Gresham
When I think of my Mom, many images come to my mind: I see her…
*Reading a book in her recliner while two big gray cats maneuver for space in her lap
*Playing with two sets of American Eskimo puppies: Nip and Tuck and later, Rhett and Scarlett
*Making scotcharoos with me in our kitchen
*Her cool hand on my forehead through many bouts of childhood tonsillitis
*Watching her smile at me reassuringly when she was in the hospital with breast cancer and I was scared for her
*Watching her play in tennis tournaments at the Wichita Racquet Club
*Seeing her rock my newborn daughter to sleep in the wee hours of the morning
*Ballroom dancing with my father
*Grieving with me as we buried beloved pets
*Having coffee on the patio by the pool while we watched the birds and squirrels at their feeders.
There are many more….thanks for all you did for us Mom and may you rest in peace.
A woman that fought for animal rights. A woman that loved nature and flowers and watching all of her many bird feeders in the back yard fill up with birds and squirrels. A woman who soaked up the sun and lived with a year-round tan and glow. A woman who was fearless. A woman of strength in tennis and swimming. A woman who loved peanut butter and dessert and pizza and beer. A woman who was so intelligent, who loved crime and mystery shows, who loved to read in the sun or in bed. A woman who never complained but bore her life with a hint of mystery and with as much dignity as anyone can muster. A woman who would read to me, Owl Moon, in her recliner while we ate peanuts and M&MS out of vintage brown bowls and laughed. A woman whose home held many mysteries to me; I would walk through the basement in awe of all the trinkets and books and jewelry and records and photos and this whole other world and way of life. A woman who kept her thoughts in a red spiral journal, who wrote beautiful letters to family. A woman who survived tornados in life, symbolic and real. A woman who always wanted more than Motherhood, who wanted adventure and fame, but who stayed in a small town to raise her daughters. A woman of gumption. A woman who broke every heart in town with her beauty and wit. A woman of my heart. I love you, Grandma. You are free now.
Thoughts about my mother……
I looked up the definition of Steel Magnolia and found: A Southern woman who possesses feminine grace as well as uncommon fortitude. That was our mother–Rosa Isabel Gresham Schemmel. And she came from a long line of Steel Magnolias.
Mom was an exceptional person. She could excel at anything she decided to do. She was extremely smart, kind, brave, and oh so funny with her witty one-liners. My father thought he was the luckiest man alive because she married him. As he declined after being stricken with ALS, his main concern was for her future welfare and happiness.
I believe that Mom’s character and integrity were exemplary. She treated every person with respect and fairness. She was not a complainer, especially about how she was feeling. I think she felt it was not right to burden the listener with her problems. Towards her last days when I would ask her if she was comfortable, she’d say yes, but how about you?
Of course I’m sure that all who knew her will remember her great love and kindness for animals, which was passed on to her children and grandchildren. She told me that her mother had been an example to her, as Mrs. Belle Hill Gresham was known for tending to stray, wounded, and abandoned animals in their town of Ware Shoals, South Carolina. My mother would sometimes say to me that if there are no animals in Heaven, then she’s not going! I have no doubt that she is there now with her many beloved pets around her and at peace.
I love you Mom, and I honor you.
Nancy Schemmel Whitney
Memories of Rosa