Betty J. (Shea) Schatz

Elizabeth “Betty” J. Schatz, 92, died peacefully on Wednesday, October 6 at the Patty Elwood Center. Visitation will be held October 10th from 4 to 7 pm at Notre Dame Church, Cresco with a Scripture Service at 4 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held October 11th at 11 am at Notre Dame Church with visitation one hour prior to the service.

Born August 19, 1929 in Chicago to John Joseph and Lucille (Milz) Shea, they returned to the family farm at Volga, IA before moving to Howard County in 1935.  Betty attended St. Joseph School and then graduated from Cresco High School in 1948.  Following graduation she took a short course at Iowa State’s Teacher College, currently UNI.  She taught rural schools for three years.

On August 22, 1951, Betty married Adrian Schatz at St. Joseph’s Church in Cresco. They farmed west of Cresco until 1997 when they moved to Cresco.  They were blessed with eight children, 20 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.  

God blessed Betty’s life through faith, education, and creating a home where any number could be fed. Not only did she prepare meals for 10 of us, she always had to be prepared for others who would drop in right before supper. She also headed up great meals for weddings, as a Circle of Faith - circle leader, and as a funeral circle chairperson. She kept a whole recipe box on how to prepare meals for 100 and multiply them.

She was dedicated to education from the very beginning and to Notre Dame Catholic School in particular. She supported it financially through fundraisers and provided leadership through serving on the School Board. She worked with Fr. Donald Hawes from 1970-1985 on maintaining a healthy Catholic School.

Finally, Betty utilized her creative skills to celebrate marriages by embroidering dish towels for every bridal shower, to celebrate births by making baby blankets, and to celebrate familial relationships by making each child a quilt. She contributed many of these skills to the needs of the community where she donated her work and time both locally and internationally as a member of the Notre Dame Sewing Circle.

Betty is survived by her children, John (JoAnne White)  and Alan (Wendy) from Cresco;  Theresa Puffer and Carol Dusheck (Dean) of Plymouth, MN.;  Diane Wohlsdorf (Kim) and Susan Hurlebaus (Greg) of Rochester, MN.; Julie Haskovec (Joe) of Lime Springs, IA and Fr. David Schatz of Dubuque, IA; her 20 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren with one on the way.

She is also survived by her brothers Robert (Bob) Shea of Blacksburg, VA, and Neil Shea (Jean) of Hemet, CA; sisters-in-law Betty Shea of Cresco and Leoba Dotzler of Arizona, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Adrian; her daughter-in-law Dianne Schatz, her sister Marilyn, brothers Ken and Don Shea; her in-laws Laurie and Mary Ann Shea, Wilfred and Delores Schatz, Ray and Rosella Schatz, Joe Schatz, and Gerald Dotzler.

In lieu of flowers, donations or gifts can be given to Notre Dame Catholic School.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.