OBITUARY: Don Schoenborn, 1922-2005, Mitchell County, Iowa 
 
[Original version posted on www.mcpress.com - Sept. 7, 2005]
 




                              Don Schoenborn

Mass of Christian Burial for Don Schoenborn, age 83, of Osage, Iowa, was
held on Thursday, September 8, 2005, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in
Osage, with Rev. John Moser officiating.

A flag presentation was done by the Osage American Legion Post 278 and
Osage V.F. W. Post 7920.   Private inurnment services were held at
St. Peter's Cemetery in New Haven.

Don died Sunday, September 4, 2005, at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in
Mason City, Iowa.

Don was born January 24, 1922, in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Edward and Opal
(Oakes) Schoenborn.  The family moved to New Haven, Iowa, in 1923, where
he attended school, graduating from St. Mary's Academy in 1940. Don was
baptized at the Cathedral in St. Paul, Minn., confirmed at St. Peter's
Catholic Church in New Haven, and was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic
Church, Osage, since 1951.

After graduation, he signed a Pro-Baseball contract with the New York
Giants and started his career in La Crosse, Wisc., in 1941. In 1942, he
played with Minneapolis, a Triple A team, where he finished the year, and
was to report to the Giants for spring training in February 1943, but
instead was ordered to report to the army in December 1942, serving 2 1/2
years in Europe with Special Services.  He rejoined the Minneapolis team
and spent two years with the Sioux City Baseball Association as a pitcher
and assistant manager.

Don was united in marriage to Claire Rosenquist on May 29, 1947, in Sioux
City. They had five children: Pamela, Carol, Geri, Mary Kay and Edward.

Don was owner of the Editor Cigar Store before managing the Spahn & Rose
Lumber Company for 20 years. Upon retirement, he was Sunny Brae Country
Club manager for five years. Don was a member of the Osage American Legion,
Osage V.F.W., Knights of Columbus, and the Catholic Order of Foresters.
He had served on the boards of the Osage Chamber of Commerce and Sunny Brae
Country Club, and was a charter member of the Kiwanis Club. Don helped
organize and develop the first Little League Baseball program in Osage.

Preceding him in death was an infant daughter, Pamela; his parents, Edward
and Opal Schoenborn; and son-in-law, Ralph Grimm.

Those who survive Don are his wife Claire Schoenborn of Osage; his
daughters, Carol Grimm of Osage, Geri (Darwin) Thompson St. Ansgar, Mary
Kay Schoenborn of Clear Lake; one son Ed (Janna) Schoenborn of Santee,
Calif.; and one sister Irma (Lionel) Eubanks of Chicago, Ill.

Don is also survived by eight grandchildren: Vicki (Kenneth) Low, Heath
(Angela) Grimm, and Chris Grimm, Kyle and Erin Thompson, Derek, Kayla and
Dane Schoenborn; five great-grandchildren: Stephanie, Allison and Ryan Low,
Emma and Leah Grimm; one aunt, Dolores Gray of Kenora, Ontario, Canada;
and four nieces and one nephew.

Arrangements were made by Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage, Iowa.


                      Copyright 2005, K. L. Kittleson