Mary Faith Owens Tiedgen Schroeder

Mary Faith Owens Tiedgen Schroeder entered the kingdom of heaven on January 23, 2013. She was born July 23, 1933 in Carroll, Neb. to Owen P. Owens and Ora Davis Owens. In her youth, Faith attended country school where her brothers and cousins made up the majority of the students. Mary Faith was the valedictorian of the 1950 class of Carroll High School. She then pursued a teaching degree at Wayne State, Kearny State, and the University of Nebraska. She married her first love, John F. (Jack) Tiedgen of Battle Creek, Neb. in November of 1953. He was a teacher, coach and an administrator of schools. Together, they were educators in Beaver City, Republican City, Harrison, Elba, Lincoln, Adams, Neb.; Mission, South Dakota and St. Louis, Mo. To them were born four children, Denise, Jeff, Kim and Scott. Faith lost Jack in 1982, but was blessed to marry John Schroeder of Council Bluffs, IA in 1983. John had lost his wife Charlotte with whom he had three children; Steve (Carol) Schroeder of Sidney, Iowa; Kathy (Jim) Heywood of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and Alan (Jeanne) Schroeder of Malcolm, Neb. In retirement, they had many adventures motor-homing before settling down in Bella Vista, Ark. Mary Faith also enjoyed family, and class reunions immensely. Mary Faith lost John in 2003 and her son, Jeff, in 2008. Perhaps due to the many changes in her life, she found strength in her church and enjoyed women's Bible studies. However, her family was her first love. Faith was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She made countless friends throughout her life's journey. She will be dearly missed. Survived by children, Denise (Thayne) Carpenter of Enid, Okla., Kim (Barry) Hegel of Lincoln, Neb., Scott (Cheryl) Tiedgen of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; her brothers, Hayden (Gen) Owens of Fennimore, Wis., Lowell (Margorie) Owens of Baltimore, Md., Stanley (Ethel) Owens of Omaha, Neb.; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. Preceded in death, parents, two husbands and son (mentioned above) and brother Orvid (Jean) Owens of Lincoln, Neb