Margaret D. (DeJean) Schroedle

Margaret Ann DeJean Schroedle (April 12, 1917 – February 6, 2020)

Born in Maumee, OH to Louis and Helen Wiggs DeJean, Margaret spent her early years in New Philadelphia, IN and was educated in a humble one-room schoolhouse. She received an A.B. degree from Hanover College in 1938 and did post graduate work at Indiana University in 1938 and 1939 and earned an M.S. Degree from Butler University in 1960.

She married Joseph H. Schroedle on Dec. 27, 1943 and served as a teacher/librarian at Jasper High School 1939-40 and a librarian at Bedford High School 1940-49.

She and her husband moved to Indianapolis in 1949 where she taught at Maywood Middle School 1949-50. After a brief stay in New Philadelphia IN the couple embarked on a series of moves as Joseph pursued several stints working as a draftsman in the aircraft industry: Slidell LA 1950, Dallas TX 1950-52 (reference librarian at Dallas Public Library), and Burbank CA 1952-54 (librarian in Los Angeles County Public Library).

They then returned to Indianapolis where Margaret served as librarian at Shortridge High School 1954-57 and 1960-61 and Arsenal Technical High School 1959-60.

When Arlington High School was opened by the Indianapolis Public Schools in 1961, Margaret was designated it's first Head Librarian. Over the summer preceding the the opening she worked to garner over 1000 books to place on the empty shelves. During her 25 years of service as director she built the media center up to 38,000 volumes, making it one of the largest and most outstanding in Indiana public schools. Through her efforts many advance copies, private collections, and valuable literary works were added to the media center at no cost to the taxpayer. Under her leadership Arlington acquired one of the best sections on American literature and Indiana history to be found anywhere.

Upon her retirement in 1986, Arlington High School honored her by re-dedicating the library as the Margaret Schroedle Media Center.

Margaret was editor of "Hoosier School Libraries" 1955-57 and "Horizons Unlimited" 1965-69, an instructor in library science 1964-76, and a member of the following organizations: National Advisory Committee McGraw-Hill Books 1970-71, Evaluation Committee North Central Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges 1971-88, Indiana Educators in Library Science, National Educational Association, Indiana State Teachers Association, Indianapolis Association of Administrators, Supervisors and Consultants, Business and Professional Women, Alpha Phi Gamma, Kappa Delta Pi, Delta Kappa Gamma, Alpha Delta Pi (social sorority), and Women's Department Club and was a member of the Indianapolis Tabernacle Presbyterian Church.

Margaret is survived by her son Joseph Richard Schroedle and grand-daughter Emma Schroedle Marsh. She rests with her husband and parents in Crown Hill Cemetery in Salem, Indiana.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Margaret D. (DeJean) Schroedle, please visit our floral store.