Marion Helen Schammel, 80, of LaMoille passed away January 19, 2021 at home after a courageous battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). Marion went to sleep and woke up in heaven with her Lord and Savior, Jesus, and was reunited with family and friends who went before.

Marion was born November 8, 1940 in Mendota, the daughter of Roy and Freida (Zimmerman) Haefner. She married Howard Schammel 61 plus years ago on June 21, 1959 at Clarion Lutheran Church.

Marion is survived by her husband, Howard; two daughters, Becky Schammel of Rockford and Colleen (Mark) Bickett of Princeton; one grandson, Josh (Abby Sheets) Bickett of Chicago; her first great grandson coming in May of 2021; sisters in law Sue (Dave) Brown and Eileen Weber both of Sandwich and brothers in law Douglas (Karen) Schammel of Sublette and Alan (Sandy) Schammel of Compton.

Marion was preceded in death by her parent, her parents in law, Charles and Ethel (Kleckner) Schammel, her sister in law, Dorothy (Schammel) Prewitt and brother in law Delbert Weber.

She attended Basswood Corner Country School until 2nd grade and graduated from LaMoille High School in 1958. After high school she worked briefly as a nurse's aide at Mendota Hospital and then settled happily into married life as a farm wife and mother. She also worked from 1995-2005 in the cafeteria at Mendota High School.  Marion loved working hard on the centennial farm where she grew up and lived all her life, climbing windmills, riding beloved horses, and raising milk cows, hogs, and chickens. She was affectionately known as the "egg lady" for all her egg deliveries to homes and businesses throughout the area.

Marion was a woman of great faith and lived her confirmation verse of Luke 10:42 with complete trust in the Lord as evidenced by the yellowed and tattered pages of her well-worn, read, and high-lighted Bible.  She started her day at an early hour reading her Bible and devotions and praying throughout the day especially for Howard and her girls and for any she knew that were struggling. She was very active in her church, serving many years as a Sunday school teacher, on the church council, in woman's circles, and was involved in Bible studies. She was an avid reader.

Marion was always smiling and laughing and practiced kindness daily. She never met a stranger.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to LaMoille-Clarion Public Library, Graves-Hume Public Library, Mendota and the Zion Lutheran Church of Clarion cemetery fund for upkeep of the cemetery.

Special thanks to all wonderful people who took care of Marion and supported her family these past months: OSF Home Health Care, OSF Hospice, and special care givers, Jody, Marilyn, Eileen, Rose, and Carla. Thank you also to our church family, friends, and neighbors for all the prayers, cards, and meals. We have been so blessed and are forever grateful.

Pallbearers will be Mark Bickett, Keith and Lori Rosenwinkel, Charlene Zimmerman, Donna Zinke, and Tom Weeks. Honorary pallbearers, Josh Bickett, Allen Zimmerman, and Joyce Sondergroth.

Funeral services will be Friday, January 22, 2021 at 11:30 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church of Clarion with Rev. Phil Gronbach officiating. Burial will be in Clarion Cemetery. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the funeral. Masks and social distancing are required due to Covid restrictions. Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota is assisting the family.

Your smile and love lit up our lives!  We love you and will see you again soon!