With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of Delores “Miss Dee” Fern Heller Schoenrock, age 95, of Fayetteville, TN.
Delores (“Miss Dee”) Fern Heller Schoenrock, passed away on March 1, 2025. She was born on April 11, 1929 in Stanton County, Nebraska. Delores was the daughter of Ernest and Matilda (Maas) Heller. She attended a one-room school for eight years and graduated from Pilger High School in 1946 where she played saxophone in the marching band and played volleyball.
After graduation, she was employed with Mutual of Omaha, Blue Star Foods, and Greyhound Bus Lines in Omaha, Nebraska. She met Don Schoenrock, a WWII veteran with the Merchant Marines, and after his discharge, they were married on June 11, 1950, in St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Pilger, Nebraska. In 1951, Don was drafted during the Korean War and joined the U S Navy. Don and Delores lived in San Diego, California, and in Honolulu, Hawaii, where their daughter, Debra, was born. After being discharged from the Navy, they moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Don attended and graduated from Milwaukee School of Engineering. In 1957, they moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where Don was employed with Amana Refrigeration. Their two sons, Doug and Daron, were born in Cedar Rapids.
In 1968, the Schoenrock family moved to Fayetteville, Tennessee, where Don was on the staff of the new Amana plant. Delores enjoyed her career as a pre-school teacher in Fayetteville. She retired in 2005 after 35 years of teaching at three schools: Kiddyland Day Care, St Mary Magdalene Pre-school and First Presbyterian Church Child Care Center. The family enjoyed annual summer vacations camping in many states and national parks. Don and
Delores especially enjoyed attending many US Navy reunions. During their travels, they were fortunate to visit 47 states in the USA and 9 European countries.
Delores enjoyed genealogy; researching and assembling the Heller family history; and staying in touch with her 25 cousins, 6 siblings, and 7 aunts and uncles. She enjoyed ballroom and square dancing; listening to big bands, polka and Christian music; attending Carriage House players and Fabulous Fifties productions; and watching her sons and grandchildren play baseball, football and soccer. She also enjoyed attending many piano recitals, dance recitals, and cheerleading events in which her granddaughters participated. Her favorite college football teams were Tennessee and Nebraska.
A member of First Presbyterian Church, she sang in the choir and was active in Presbyterian Women. She was a member of the Highland Rim Civitan Club for 25 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Don, of 65 years; her brothers Alvin (Ethel) Heller, Orville (Alvina) Heller, Duane Heller, and Don (Joyce) Heller; her sisters Helen (David) Carroll and Joan (Dick) Holmes; and her son-in-law Wayne Barnes. Delores is survived by her daughter, Debra of Tullahoma, TN; son Douglas (Linda) of Saugatuck, MI; son Daron (Carol) of Oakland, TN; grandchildren Emily Barnes, Sarah (Nathan) Mock, Lauren (Erick) Navarette, Eve Schoenrock, Erik Schoenrock, and Bret Schoenrock; a sister-in-law Joyce Heller; and many other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be held in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville, TN on Thursday, March 6 from 10:00-11:30 AM. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 12:00 PM in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church. A luncheon will immediately follow the service at 1:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church Family Center gymnasium. A private interment for the family will be held at Cedar Hills Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 472, Fayetteville, TN or Junior’s House, 704 W. Maple Street, Fayetteville, TN.
Higgins Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Delores “Miss Dee” Fern Heller Schoenrock.
