Maureen Mary (Vander Schel) Morehouse, 70, of Winterset, passed away peacefully on June 15, 2025, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
Maureen was born Aug. 9, 1954, in Newton. She graduated from Lynnville-Sully High School in 1972 and Oak Hills Bible Institute in Bemidji, MN, in 1974. She married her husband Michael on Mar. 25, 1978, and they made their home in Pella. Throughout her life, she made her home in several Iowa communities, including, 21 years in Independence, 14 years in Winthrop, and the past nine years in Winterset.
She is survived by her loving husband Michael Morehouse; her children Spencer (Jenny) Morehouse of Peru, IA, and Marissa (Justin) Jenkins of Lawrence, KS; her seven grandchildren Kevin, Paiton, and Creighton Morehouse and Reece, Oliver, Grant, and Pippa Jenkins; and one great-grandchild Zola; all of whom brought her immense joy and pride.
Maureen worked as a dedicated kitchen manager for the Independence Public Schools for 27 years before retiring in 2016. She loved camping, scenic jeep rides with Mike, her garden and flowers, baking, puzzles, and a good book. You could always talk her into playing cards and sharing laughter and stories around the campfire. Her greatest joy came from time spent with her family, helping her children, but most of all supporting her grandchildren in their many events and activities.
Maureen was preceded in death by her parents Donald and Gwendolyn Vander Schel; her stepmother Lois Vander Schel; and an infant sister Debra Ann.
Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Monday, June 23, at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, Winterset Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 24, with a viewing at 9 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Winterset. Burial will follow in the Peru Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Friends of the Winterset Public Library. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.caldwellparrish.com.
