Elaine (Shoger) Schnedecker

Elaine (Shoger) Schnedecker passed away Thursday October 1st at the age of 87. Elaine was born on January 17th, 1928 in La Crosse to Ethel (Bower) & Charles Shoger. Elaine attended St Mary's Catholic grade school and Aquinas High School where she graduated in 1946. On October 7th, 1951 she married Bernie Schnedecker. They would have celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary this week.

Elaine loved dancing with Bernie and looked forward to traveling, in which she kept a daily log of every trip, including the weather. Her and Bernie loved to pack up their camper and head off to camp, fish and visit relatives. Her favorite hobbies included antiquing with her sister in-law Lucille Shoger, playing cards with her bridge card group and her niece and nephew Mike & Marilyn Shoger, reading; thanks to her special friend and personal librarian, Rita Flaherty. Anybody who had visted her home would know she was extremely proud of her elephant collection.

But nothing was important to her than her family. She relished her role as mother, grandma and great grandma. She had a special relationship with her daughter, Karen. Thankfully, they spent the last few hours together. Grandma deeply loved her two grandchildren, Mike and Katie loved spending time on grandma's lap, putting together puzzles, and getting the best back rubs. Elaine also got great joy from cooking especially preparing the big Thanksgiving meal for her family. Even as a adult, Katie would often call grandma for comfort. There is no question that recently the real joy of her life was her great-granddaughter, Kaileen Rose.

Elaine volunteered for the Girl Scouts, the Catholic Order of Foresters and Mayo Health Care for several years. Her most rewarding volunteering was rocking babies in Mayo's Neo-natal unit.

Elaine is survived by a sister, Dorothy (Will) Temby, her daughter, Karen (Mike) Desmond, grandchildren Mike and Katie, and granddaughter, Kaileen Rose Desmond. She is also survived by 19 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother Jim Shoger and his wife Lucille.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, October 7th, 2015 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. The Rev. Rick Roberts will officiate. Burial will take place at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Hokah, Mn. Friends may call at 9:00 am until time of services. The family wishes that all memorials in Elaine's honor be directed to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse.