Judith Ann Schaller, 78, of Plymouth peacefully passed away at her home in the care of her family on Friday, June 17, 2022.
Judith Ann Gerold was born to Edith (Berg) and Emil Gerold on October 2, 1943. She grew up on a dairy farm near Cedar Lake, IN. Judy left the farm to attend Indiana State University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and later also earned her Masters of Education from Purdue University. After graduating she taught 4th grade at Knolling School in St. John for 3 years.
It was during that time that she met Herb Schaller through Rural Youth. They were married on June 10th, 1967, at Holy Name Catholic Church in Cedar Lake. They moved to Goshen, IN, where she taught elementary school for 1 year before moving to Plymouth where they would reside together for 55 years and raise their 5 children on their farm.
She loved and taught her children, through her selfless example of service. They also learned humility and hard work by watching her live every day of her life. The greatest gift she gave them was the gift of faith in Jesus Christ. Judy ensured that they all attended St. Michael Grade School and receive a faith-based education.
Judy always had a smile and never had an unkind work. For 25 years she was the Activities Director at the Katherine Casper Home in Donaldson where she was the first to receive the Katherine Casper Lifetime Achievement Award. She retired from this career to bring her mother, Edith, home to care for her until she went to her heavenly home in 2004.
After her mother passed, Judy enjoyed many hobbies including gardening, reading, and sewing and donating over 300 baby blankets to the Plymouth Women’s Care Center. Her favorite thing to do was to be with her grandchildren. There were many “Grandma sleepovers” and she earned the title “Grandma Spoiler.” The grandkids can attest that there was always ice cream in her freezer, as Judy enjoyed her ice cream as much as the kids.
Judy is survived by her loving husband, Herb of Plymouth, and their children: Steve (Leanne) Schaller of Rochester, Vince (Lanette) Schaller of Lamoni, IA, Dan (Stephanie) Schaller of Culver, Ben (Linda) Schaller of Plymouth and daughter Laura (Jon) Langfeldt; 10 grandchildren: Katherine, Sarah, Luke (Anna), Samuel, Matthew, Isaac, and Elliana Schaller, and Morgan, Marisa and Brayden Langfeldt as well as great-grandson Walker Schaller.
Also surviving is her twin sister Joyce (Don) Satoski of Union Mills, IN; twin siblings Rita (Chuck) Hennings of Coco, FL and Ralph (Ruth) Gerold of Cedar Lake, IN; and sister-in-law, Carolyn Gerold of Greenville, OH; and brothers and sisters-in-law: John Schaller, Robert (Judy) Schaller, Harry Roe, Laura Halfman, Margaret (Steve) Hill, Donna (Norman) Johnson and Susan (Chuck) Herr.
She was preceded in death by her parents Emil and Edith; brother David Gerold; brother and sisters-in-law Mary Lou Roe, Pat Schaller and Leonard Halfman, and father and mother-in-law, Ferdinand and Caroline Schaller.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, from 5-9 p.m. EST at Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan Street, Plymouth. A Rosary will be recited at 8:45 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at St. Michael Catholic Church, 613 N. Center Street, with Fr. Fernando Jimenez officiating.
Burial will follow in St. Michael Catholic Cemetery, Plymouth with Fr. Keeton Lockwood.
Faith and family mattered to her most and it would be her wish for any memorial contributions to be made to the Women’s Care Center, 224 N. Michigan Street, Plymouth, IN 46563 or St. Michael Church, 612 N. Walnut Street, Plymouth, IN 46563.
Condolences may be sent to the family through the website: www.johnson-danielson.com
