Longtime Meredosia Resident Norma Jean (Polly) Schweer Dies at 95

Norma Jean "Polly" Staake Schweer, 95, a lifelong Meredosia resident, passed away March 6, 2026, at Scott County Nursing Center in Winchester. Her family has scheduled a visitation from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 12, 2026, with a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. the same day at Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home, Jacksonville Chapel, 1100 Lincoln Avenue, Jacksonville, followed by burial at Oakland Cemetery in Meredosia.

Schweer was born January 16, 1931, in Meredosia, the daughter of Ray and Ruth (Hildebrand) Werries. She graduated from Meredosia High School in 1948. She married Leland Herman Staake on August 20, 1950, in rural Chapin; he preceded her in death on May 15, 1994. She later married Norman R. Schweer on November 21, 1997, in Las Vegas, Nevada; he preceded her in death on December 23, 2014.

Professionally, Polly Schweer worked as a bookkeeper at A.B. Chrisman in Meredosia for more than 20 years, a tenure the obituary notes as a central part of her daily life. Her community roles included serving on the Meredosia Public Library Board and volunteering for many years at Passavant Area Hospital. She was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Jacksonville and, outside civic life, enjoyed going to casinos and playing bingo.

She is survived by her sons Gary Staake and his wife Christine of Meredosia and Ron Staake and his wife Paulette of Jacksonville. Her seven grandchildren are listed as Alicia Rathgeb; Erin (Morgan) Betsinger; Brandon (Carlee) Staake; Chelle (Matt) Holmes; Stacey (Andrew) Mackey; Jerrod (Cindy) Staake; and Beth Staake. The obituary records fifteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Her sister Betty Kleinlein, widow of the late Paul Kleinlein, of Chambersburg, and many nieces and nephews also survive her.

The obituary lists those who preceded her in death: her parents Ray and Ruth (Hildebrand) Werries; husbands Leland Herman Staake and Norman R. Schweer; son John Staake and his wife Mary Lou Staake; granddaughter Angela Staake; sister Mary Kaltschnee; and brothers Marvin Werries, Robert Werries, and Donald Werries, the latter two entries noting surviving wives Marilyn of Jacksonville and Roxy of Meredosia respectively.

A funeral service will be held at Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home, Jacksonville Chapel, with the family meeting friends from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. prior to the 11:00 a.m. service on Thursday, March 12. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery in Meredosia. The family suggests memorials to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Jacksonville and welcomes condolences to Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home.