Leona Ida Scheihagen went to sleep and woke up in the presence of her Heavenly Father on July 1, 2024 at the age of 103. God welcomed her with open arms.

Leona was born to Louis George & Elsie Lelia Marie (Nessel) Shambeck on May 14, 1921 in Wilson, Texas. She was preceded in death by her spouses: Alfred Hill, Elmer Kimball, & A.E. "Shy" Scheihagen; Son, Alfred Larry Hill and Stepson, Lee Kimball. Brothers: Alvin Shambeck, Clarence Shambeck, Louis Shambeck and Willie Shambeck.

Leona is survived by her sister, Elner Welch, of Lubbock, TX; sister-in-law, Velma Ruth Shambeck of Lubbock, TX; daughter, Sharon Knibbe & husband, Chuck of Spring Branch, TX; step-daughter-in-law, Gayla Kimball, of Hereford, TX; step-sons, David Scheihagen & wife, Amy of Dallas, TX; Vin Scheihagen & wife, Cathy of Dallas, TX; and step-daughter-in-law, Saundra Rees & husband, Dan of Joplin, MO;  grandchildren, Shannon Knibbe; Chad Knibbe & wife, Callie of Spring Branch, TX; Cory Hill Ahern & wife, Jennifer, of Long Island, NY; step-granddaughters, Chris Tapia; Kesha Warner & husband, Francis of Hereford, TX; step-grandsons, Robert Tippett, Dow Tippett, Terrance Tippett, Eric Scheihagen, Torsten Scheihagen, Dale Scheihagen, Kyle Scheihagen, Brent Scheihagen, and numerous great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, additional relatives and dear friends.

Leona was born in Wilson, Texas. She was raised on the family farm where she hoed and pulled cotton and worked in the fields after school and in the summer along with her 4 brothers and 1 sister until graduating from Wilson High School. After graduation she married Alfred Hill from Littlefield, TX. They spent the first year in California picking oranges and doing various jobs to make money. They returned and were able to buy a farm in Hale Center, TX. Alfred died at age 33 from a heart attack. Leona moved from the farm with their two children and built a home in Lubbock, TX. She sold the farm and bought another in Hereford, Tx. Six years later she married Elmer Kimball. His wife and younger son had been killed in a car wreck in a horrible dust storm. Leona welcomed his surviving son and the family moved to Hereford to farm the land she had bought.  Leona spent the next 30 years raising her 3 children and being actively involved in all aspects of church and community life. She was Sunday School Superintendent, taught Sunday School, sang in the church choir, organized and led a children's choir, and for 6 years she organized and took high school youth on skiing trips to New Mexico, sometimes with over 50 kids going. She and Elmer loved to square dance and they attended several state and national square dance gatherings. Leona worked in various political campaigns for the State Senate and was actively involved in the Foreign Exchange Student Program. Frank Hergert from Germany lived with the family his senior year in high school. Leona refinished furniture for every room of her home and for neighbors as well. She loved traveling and was able to go to many parts of Europe and the Middle East. Her hobbies were many but everything centered around the church and her passion for the Lord and for helping other people.

Elmer died from cancer in 1979.Leona spent the next 10 years farming the land, selling Bondel water softeners, selling Mary Kay, and buying homes, fixing them up and selling them. She stayed actively involved in the church. In 1988 she married Shy (A.E.) Scheihagen, sold the farm and moved to Huntsville where she happily got involved in the church there. In 1995 her son Larry died from Lymphoma.  Shy passed away in 2001. Despite all the trials and hardships she endured, her faith and her love for God never waivered.

Leona stayed in Huntsville until 2019 when she moved to an assisted living home in San Antonio, TX to be close to her daughter and family. She loved traveling with them to various parts of the states and spending time with them on the ranch. She always said, hard work and loving and working for the Lord was the reason she stayed healthy and happy this long. She will be remembered for her love of the Lord, her positive attitude and her can-do spirit.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 AM (with visitation being held one hour prior from 9:30 AM until Service Time) on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bulverde, Texas with Pastor Luke Allison officiating.

Burial will follow in procession to St. Paul Lutheran Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Lymphoma Foundation of America (in honor of her son, Larry, who died from Lymphoma), as well as, contributions to the Memorial Fund of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bulverde, TX. 29797 US Hwy 281 N, Bulverde, TX 78163

Please sign the guestbook at www.doeppenschmidtfuneralhome.com