Marie Josephine Schrage was born September 23, 1920, to Joseph and Catherine (Hoefer) Petsche in Raeville, NE. She was baptized at St. Bonaventure Church in Raeville and attended the St. Bonaventure School. Marie was the sixth of 10 children.

She married Robert N. Schrage on June 23, 1943, in Raeville. They farmed east of Elgin for many years and retired to town in 2005. Marie was a member and one-time president of the St. Boniface Christian Mothers Society. She devoted many years of service to the church and received the 2006-2007 St. Boniface Outstanding Volunteer Award. Marie and Bob recently were recognized as the longest-married couple in the parish.

Marie had a passion for sewing, quilting, gardening, and loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Marie is survived by her husband Robert and seven children: Diane and Gary Kerkman of Raeville; Pamela and Charles Meis of Albion; Gary and Janice (Vanourney) Schrage of Sloan, IA; Paul and Jolene (Bennett) Schrage of Elgin; Jeanne and Steve Stokes of Petersburg, Jayne and Gary Arehart of Elgin; Dan and Deanne (Veik) Schrage of Neligh; sisters-in-law Margaret Petsche of Petersburg, Jerrene Petsche of Hillsboro, OR, and brother-in-law Ross Manganaro of Omaha; 22 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Catherine Petsche; five brothers: Henry (Elnora), Leander (Rose), Harold, Florian, and Sal Petsche; four sisters: Wilma (Ed) Dinslage, Irene (Pete) Ridder, Dolores (Walt) Parr, Alice Manganaro; several nieces and a nephews.