Carolyn Schuette

Carolyn Daisie (Riedel) Schuette, 84, of Staples, MN, passed away on Monday, November 18, 2013, peacefully at her home. Funeral services will be held for Carolyn on Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 11:00 AM at Staples Congregational Church. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Staples, MN from 5-7 PM, with prayers at 6:30 PM, and one hour prior to funeral services. Interment will be at Evergreen Hill Cemetery in Staples, MN.

Carolyn was born in Lake City, Iowa to Roy and Laura (Young) Riedel on October 18, 1929 and spent her early years in Iowa. Her family moved to Staples to a farm East of town, where she attended Staples High School. She then worked in Minneapolis as a telephone operator at AT&T. Carolyn married Donald Henry in 1949. They had seven children and lived in various locations including Kansas, Minnesota, and Missouri. In 1972, Carolyn moved to Staples, MN, working at Solite Optical, Lincoln Model School, and Staples Technical College, where she became the Bookstore Manager until her retirement in 1995. Carolyn married Stanley Schuette in 1976, and expanded her family to include his three daughters.

Carolyn was a long time active member of the Congregational Church Women's Fellowship. She also served for many years as an Election Judge for Villard Township. Carolyn had many hobbies including gardening, cooking, bird watching, attending local concerts, traveling, sewing, playing cards with her women's group, and most of all, knitting. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren have been blessed with Carolyn's unique Afghans at their births, graduations and weddings. She also provided Afghans for fundraisers and personal gifts.

Carolyn is survived by her husband, Stanley Schuette; ten children, Michael (Lauri) Henry of Rochester, MN, Karen (Gary) Pipek of Staples, MN, Colleen (Scott) Swantner of Port Townsend, WA, Sheila (Scott) Becker of Staples, MN, Sara (Mark) Hoemberg of Staples, MN, Merrie (Dennis) Breitenfeldt of Long Prairie, MN, David (Julie) Henry of Kenmore, NY, Anne (Jerry) Krause of Northfield, MN, Jean (Mike) Rowe of Junction City, KS, and Margaret Schuette of Winsted, MN; four sisters, RuthAnn Demmon of Janesville, WI, Linda (Bob) Himmelright of Deerwood, MN, Susan Riedel of Butte, MT, Kate Riedel (Max Arnott) of Toronto, Canada; 41 grandchildren, and 35 great grandchildren. Her sister, Ellen Riedel and her great granddaughter, Grace Becker, preceded Carolyn in death.