Jnell (Mitchell) Schroeder
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6A - February 1, 2012
Jnell Mitchell Schroeder died
January 27, 2012, at the Hospice
and Palliative Care Facility in
Grand Junction. She was 90.
J n e l l w a s b o r n M a r y J n e l l
Mitchell to Jesse M. and Anna M.
(Cooper) Mitchell on April 19,
1921, in Marlow, Oklahoma. At
the age of two, the family moved
to Durango, Colorado where she
grew up, graduating from Durango High School in 1938. She attended
Colorado Women's College in Denver for two years, then
transferred to Colorado A&M in Fort Collins. Jnell graduated in
1942 with a Bachelor's Degree in Home Economics. She also met
and fell in love with Earl Duane Schroeder during that time. They
were married immediately after her college graduation ceremony on
May 17, 1942. Their life together spanned 61 years before Earl's
passing in 2003.
Shortly after graduation from A&M, Jnell taught biology and home
economics at a tiny school in Boone, CO, and later was the dietician
for Fort Lewis College in Hesperus, CO. After Earl returned from
service in the US Army during WWII, they began their long life together.
She worked in the Scientific Library at Los Alamos, NM,
then started her family with Earl on a 400 acre dairy farm near
Ridgway, CO. She later established and taught at Crestview Kindergarten
in Durango. Jnell, as an Army wife for 30 years, lived and
worked in various states around the nation including: Colorado
(Grand Junction, Clifton), Virginia (Alexandria), Oklahoma (Ft.
Sill/Lawton), New Mexico (Albuquerque), then back to Colorado to
their 23 acre apple orchard near Clifton. Raising seven sons was a
constant adventure with many rewards and fun tales. Her time included
the usual ball games, camping trips, and vacations. She also
spent 13 years as a Cub Scout den mother doing many wonderful
skits, craft projects, and award ceremonies. She and Earl helped
sponsor Cambodian refugees in the Grand Valley in the early 80's
and she gave generously as a blood donor to Mesa County Blood
Bank (over 13 gallons).
While in Albuquerque, she returned to school and earned a
Master's Degree from the University of New Mexico in Elementary
Education (Reading Specialist). Upon returning to Colorado in
1971, she taught second grade for many years at Lincoln Park Elementary
in Grand Junction. After retiring from District 51, Jnell
served on the board of directors for Genesis Christian School in
Clifton for many years and helped develop their teacher's handbook.
She taught Sunday School and volunteered at the various churches
she attended over the years, the last one being Clifton Christian
Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Helen (Mitchell)
Shields, and her loving husband, Earl. Jnell is survived by her
sons, Gary Schroeder of Palisade, CO; Dr. David (Ginny) Schroeder
of New Castle, CO; Alan (Phyllis) Schroeder of Clifton, CO; Dr.
Michael (Kris) Schroeder of Kent, WA; Robert (Beth) Schroeder of
Clifton, CO; Randal Schroeder of Gypsum, CO, and Dr. James
(Kae) Schroeder of Grand Junction, CO and her beloved niece, Patti
(Richard) Smith of Grand Junction, CO. She has 14 grandchildren
and 18 great-grandchildren.
A public memorial service will be held at Clifton Christian Church,
February 4, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. She will be inurned with Earl at the
Veteran’s Cemetery in Grand Junction. In lieu of flowers, donations
can be made to any of the numerous ministries at Clifton Christian
Church, Christian Community Schools, or Mesa County Partners.
