Roberta "Bobbi" Schneider

Iowa City-Roberta was born to Ray and Marjorie (Yeoman) Gillette on September 15, 1941, at their home in St. Augustine, Illinois. Berta, as she was known then, was confined to an iron lung for several months after contracting infantile paralysis at the age of 3. Berta graduated from Abingdon schools and then attended Galesburg School of Beauty Culture. She worked as a beautician for 8 years in Galesburg, Abingdon, Peoria and Champaign, Illinois, and Norfolk, Virginia. Berta’s career was interrupted in 1962 with a 6 month stay at the Peoria Tuberculosis Sanitarium.

Bobbi (her choice of nicknames) met her future husband, Herman Schneider, when working in Champaign while he was on leave from the Navy. They were united in marriage on August 15, 1965 in Rantoul, IL. They lived in Norfolk, VA, Puerto Rico and Gulfport, MS. Twin boys completed their family; and, while Herman was at sea, Bobbi was both mother and father with the advice and moral support of her near-by in-laws.

Bobbi attended William Carey College of Gulfport, MS. where she obtained her BSN while working at Gulfport Memorial Hospital. Several years after her husband’s death, Hurricane Katrina helped her decide to leave the coast. Bobbi moved to Marengo, Iowa, with one of her sons, to be closer to her sisters and other son. She is survived her two sons, Harold and Howard (Shelly); grandchildren Holly and Hunter; and sister Mary (Carlton) McCord. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, infant granddaughter, sister Patricia (Walter) McGee, father-in-law and mother-in-law.

A family memorial service will be held at a later date. She has requested cremation and burial of ashes at the Biloxi National Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established for Safe Haven of Iowa County 2783 Hwy 6 Trail, South Amana, Iowa 52334. Powell Funeral Home in Marengo is caring for Roberta and her family.