January 29, 1941 - March 1, 2023
Stefani “Maude” Kay Gurwell Schram of Overland Park, Kansas, departed this life on 1 March, 2023. She is now joyfully “creating her new reality”.
Stefani was born 29 January, 1941 in Okeene, Oklahoma to Hugh and Pauline Hill Gurwell. At an early age, she moved with her family to Enid, Oklahoma and graduated from Enid High School in 1958. Stefani attended Columbia Christian College, Columbia, Missouri on scholarship from 1958-1959, then completed her college education at the University of Oklahoma in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education. She was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and had many lasting memories of her time there.
Stefani wed her high school sweetheart, David Schram, on 28 July, 1962. They were married for sixty years. She taught elementary education in the Enid Public School system from 1963 through 1965. With the arrival of her son, David Douglas in late 1963 and the birth of her twin boys, Matthew and Michael, in late 1965, Stefani retired from teaching to devote full time to her three sons. In 1971, she gave birth to her daughter, Libby, with whom she shared a special bond.
Stefani devoted a portion of her married life working with David in the family construction business as office manager and caretaker of all things. The wonderful environment that she created, both at work and home, gave others a solid platform for life in this world with unshakable ethics, sound judgment, and incredible love.
She will be remembered by her family and friends as someone that was always seeking expanded consciousness while simultaneously teaching all of us that we truly do create our own realities. She was a deeply spiritual person who possessed a playful sense of humor while always being open minded to alternate thinking. Even in her last days with physical pain, she cracked jokes and never complained.
She is survived by her loving husband, David; sons, Doug and wife, Lori of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Matthew and wife, Rachel; Michael and wife, Sara; daughter, Elizabeth Penrod, all of Overland Park, Kansas; grandchildren, Andrew Schram & fiancée, Tory Atkins; Emily Duckworth and husband, Gunnar; Taylor Lamb and husband, Connor; Zachary Schram & fiancée, Hollan Phillips; Peyton Schram; Ryan Schram; Carson Schram & fiancée, Kamber Crowe; Jacob Schram; Ellie Schram; Olivia Schram; Chloe Penrod; Maggie Penrod; Casey Skelton and husband, Zach; Cody Smith; great granddaughter, Delaney Duckworth; brother, David Gurwell of Overland Park, KS, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. She also shared a
lifelong bond with her cousin, Bob Hill of Rancho Mirage, CA.
She is preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Mark Gurwell.
The family would like to acknowledge Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care for the wonderful care given to Stefani during her illness.
Donations may be made in her name to: Friends of the Arboretum in Overland Park at www.opabg.org; KC Hospice & Palliative Care at www.kchospice.org
Memorial services celebrating and honoring Stefani’s life will be conducted at Henninger-Hinson Funeral Home, 601 West Broadway, Enid, Oklahoma, April 1, 2023, 11:00 am.
“We are all just walking each other home.” - Ram Dass
We will love you forever, Mom.
Obituaries are posted, in part, due to the generosity of The Commons.
A United Methodist Retirement Community
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