Marjorie Schroeder Dersheimer

Marge Dersheimer passed away peacefully at UTMB in Galveston, Texas on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, surrounded by family. She was 90 years old.
Born on the Island, she blessed Leona Hegmann Schroeder and Edward W. Schroeder with her arrival on July 29, 1934. Marge is a graduate of Ball High School and attended Texas State College for Women (now Texas Women's University). In her later years, she also attended Galveston College.
Marge married young Air Force Cadet George F. Dersheimer on April 2, 1955 and devoted her life to making a home for George and their three children wherever they were stationed around the world. She embraced life as a military wife and mother, getting involved in her son's scouting events as a Cub Scout Den Mother and as a Girl Scout Brownie Troop leader for her daughter. She loved sewing unique Halloween costumes for the family and would also create great costumes for she and George for military parties and events.
Always a gracious hostess, she and George held many parties in the various locations where they were stationed, including in Okinawa, Japan; and later in Saudi Arabia.
Upon George's military retirement at the rank of Major, they returned to her hometown of Galveston in 1976, where she resided until her passing.
Marge worked for many years at American Indemnity Insurance Company of Galveston as a Property Claims Adjuster. Upon her retirement from American Indemnity, she embraced retired life, volunteering in her community with Holy Family Parish in the Altar Society, with Galveston Meals on Wheels and alongside her daughter at Clean Galveston and The Grand 1894 Opera House Grand Kids Festival. Marge and George loved traveling, and cruising; and truly traveled the world.
Marge was also an artist, painting in her younger years. In retirement, she formed a book club that was active for many years until the pandemic; as well as co-founded a women's investment club, The Galvestors. She loved attending classes at OLLI, particularly the chair yoga classes and learning the ukulele. She enthusiastically embraced Mahjong and played with a group on Mondays and Thursdays with a zeal – nothing could interrupt those games! She loved her dear Mahjong friends.
Marge was preceded in death by her loving husband of 65 years, George F. Dersheimer, her mother, Leona Hegmann Schroeder; father, Edward W. Schroeder; sister Joan Schroeder Miller and her husband Pete Miller; nephew Steven Miller, and in-laws Theron George Dersheimer and Katherine Ann Dersheimer.
Marge is survived by her son Richard Scott Dersheimer, daughter Katherine Ann Dersheimer VanDewalli and husband John P. VanDewalli, all of Galveston; and son David Scott Dersheimer and wife Charity Dersheimer of Kentucky. She is also survived by granddaughters Heather Dersheimer, Jessica Dersheimer Holloway and husband Matt Holloway, Haley Dersheimer Simon and husband Taylor Simon all of Kentucky; and grandson Ryan P. VanDewalli of Galveston; great-grandchildren Lennon and Laurel Cupples, and Leona, Matilda (Mattie) and Emily Holloway, all of Kentucky.
Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her pride and joy, and she was blessed to have all of them in Galveston this past July to celebrate her 90th birthday.
Marge is also survived by her nephew Michael Miller of Galveston; and niece Nancy Miller Erickson and husband Jonathan Erikson of Dallas; along with many cousins and lifelong Island friends.
The family would like to extend our love and gratitude to our family doctor, Dr. Julie McKee for all her love and attention to our mom and family; and to all the nurses and staff at UTMB who cared for our mom in the last days of her life. Special appreciation to nurses Maureen Obudho and Jennifer Orepeza, and to Dr. Tyler Fields and Dr. Ashley Echeta for their care and compassion as our mom transitioned to her place in our Lord's heavenly kingdom.
Marge's family will receive visitors beginning at 9:00 am, Saturday, January 11, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with a funeral mass beginning at 10:00 am. There will be a private family burial.
Honorary pallbearers will be Michael Miller, Jonathan Erickson, Criss Schroeder, Ed Schroeder, and John VanDewalli.
Memorial gifts may be made to Holy Family Parish, 1010 35th Street, Galveston, TX 77550 or to Galveston Island Meals on Wheels, 2803 53rd Street, Galveston, TX 77551.