Theo M. Schonneker

Published 9:08 am Monday, April 16, 2018

August 28, 1925 – March 28, 2018

Theo Marie Schonneker was born August 28, 1925, to Chester and Esther (Greene) Harmon in Beauford, Baxter County, Arkansas.

Her family moved to Oregon when she was 9 months old in 1926. After living in Coquille and Portland, Oregon. They settled in Culver, Oregon in 1932, where she lived most of her life. She attended school in Culver until her senior year when she graduated from Redmond Union high school in 1943. (Culver high school students were transported to Redmond during WWII due to a shortage of teachers.)

She worked in Portland in various offices the next three years. On December 20, 1946, she married John J. Schonneker and became an instant mother to Chuck and Sharon-“A real blessing, if one had to inherit children they were the ones you’d hope for” (her words). Their daughter, Lisa was born in 1955. All three children graduated from the Culver school system.

From 1967 to 1984, Theo managed the office at Round Butte Growers and Shippers, a potato packing warehouse in Culver. Theo and John ranched in Culver all the years they were married.

Theo’s passion in life was poetry-memorizing, reciting and writing. She had extensive files and could find the exact one for almost any occasion-or write whatever was needed. She was quick witted and had a zany sense of humor.

She was an active member of the Culver Christian Church and it had been such a blessing to her… the close-knit support and fellowship of her church family. Her home at the ranch had been the family gathering place and she was privileged to live there until 2013 at which time, due to health concerns she moved to Hermiston, Oregon to live with Loren and Lisa.

As we lose the matriarch of our clan, we shall miss her. She was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, John Schonneker in 1990. Also her parents, son, Chuck and brothersm Bob, Chuck, and Chet Harmon, Jr. Her survivors are daughter, Sharon (Ken) Belleisle of Bozeman, Montana, and daughter, Lisa (Loren) VanSwoll of Hermiston, Oregon, grandchildren, Kurt and Marcus Schonneker, Brian Belleisle, John VanSwoll and Brandi McDonough. And many great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2018, at 2PM at the Culver Christian Church. Any memorials may be made to Culver Christian Church, P.O. Box 87, Culver, Oregon 97734.