Myrna B. Tangeman Schmelzer
January 3, 1939–December 15, 2025
Myrna B. (Adney) Tangeman Schmelzer, 86, of McGregor, passed away Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, at Emplify Health Center in LaCrosse.
Visitation was held 3 – 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, at Morris Funeral Home in Garnavillo, Iowa. Visitation continued at 10 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Garnavillo on Saturday, prior to funeral services.
Funeral Services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Garnavillo, Iowa with burial at Garnavillo Community Cemetery. Rev. Gary Hatcher will officiate. Funeral service were livestreamed on First and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Facebook Page.
Myrna was born Jan. 3, 1939, in Mendon Township in McGregor, Iowa, daughter of Archie and Adeline (Kamp) Adney. She married Fred Tangeman on October 19, 1957, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garnavillo, Iowa. Fred later passed away on March 20, 1989. She married Gene Schmelzer on Dec. 10, 1994. Together, they owned and operated Paradise Valley. Gene later passed away on August 31, 2003.
Myrna helped on the farm with her family and can be remembered for milking cows or bailing hay barefoot. She loved cooking and baking, especially her pancakes with elderberry syrup and several delicious pies at the Clayton County Fair stand.
She was very active with her church, teaching Sunday School and holding a position on the Parish Council. She loved her annual girls’ trip with her daughters and granddaughters. She was proud to keep a daily diary beginning on her 12th birthday for over 70 years.
Survivors include her children: Greg (Kathy) Tangeman of Prairie Du Chien, WI, Denise (Jerry) Wilke of Elkader, Brenda Oehlerich of Iowa City, Monica (Kevin) Olmstead of Mount Hope, WI; grandchildren: Litisha (Justin) Spies, Tanya (Glenn) Wolcott, Tammy (Allen) Stanley, Matthew (Caitlin Bittner) Wilke, Kendra (Mitch Rosburg) Wilke, Jared Reynolds, Luke (Morgan) Oehlerich, Lara Oehlerich, Justice Olmstead, Jasmine (Joseph Johnson) Olmstead; 12 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; siblings: June (Bernell) Larson, Sharon Peters, Allen Adney; special friend, Bob Bente; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, Fred Tangeman and Gene Schmelzer; son in infancy, Timothy Tangeman; and grandsons: Ross and Ryan Wilke; brother in infancy, Alton Adney; in-laws: Gene Peters and LaVerna Adney.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Maple Crest Campus, Garnavillo Historical Society, or St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Garnavillo.
The family would like to thank the staff at Maple Crest Campus in Fayette for their compassionate care for the last six months. Also, a special thank you to Bob Bente for his friendship and care through the years.
Morris Funeral Home in Garnavillo is assisting the family and online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramer-morrisfuneralhome.com.
