Ilse V. Schall

Ilse Schall (nee Vonnegut) arrived at Westminster Canterbury ready to enjoy “Life Refreshed”, while at the same time is willing to share stories from her busy life as the wife of a U. S. Navy carrier pilot, mother of five children, and church and community volunteer.  Born in Hague, North Dakota, and a graduate of the town’s high school, Ilse received a B. A. degree in sociology and psychology from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a Red Cross medical social worker certificate from the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado.  She then worked for a year in a hospital in California before returning to Hague in 1948 to marry a hometown guy, and son of family friends, by the name of Rodney (Rod) Schall (deceased 2009).

For a good number of years during her 61-year marriage, Ilse had extensive practice at packing, moving, helping children adjust to new neighborhoods and schools, finding satisfying volunteer activities to pursue, and working solo on parental matters.   In the list of places that she and her family lived, which is too long for the space allowed for her bio, Ilse recalls anywhere in California as very enjoyable and Pensacola, Florida, as her least favorite.

 Ilse moved to WC to be close to her daughter Ellen Agnew, who with husband Lloyd, lives in Lynchburg.  Another daughter, Karen and her husband Herbert reside in New Fairfield, Connecticut.  Close to them is Ilse’s son Tom.  He and his wife Karin are residents of New York City, while a second son, Steve, and wife Karen call Virginia Beach, Virginia, home.  A third son, Rick died of cancer in 2018. Ilse also has nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

 Almost as long as the places Ilse has lived is the list of her church and community volunteer activities.  The force behind the various ways she has helped is the joy she receives from working with people.  One endeavor that she is especially proud of is the many years she spent at Virginia Beach’s Sugar Plum Bakery.  Here she assisted in a program that trained disabled individuals for employment.

 Now that Ilse is unpacked and settled in her WC home, she looks forward to spending a lazy afternoon working crossword puzzles balanced with enjoying some WC activities and making new friends.  Be on the lookout for Ilse and give her a warm WC welcome.

  And, yes, the author Kurt Vonnegut is a distant relative.