Jo Ann Schedler is helping with the 38th annual Mohican Veterans Pow-wow being held Aug. 8-10 in Bowler.
Schedler was born in Shawano but grew up in Milwaukee, graduating from South Division High School. She first became a beautician, then earned a degree in nursing from Marquette University and a Master of Science degree in management from Cardinal Stritch University, both in Milwaukee.
She was a clinical nurse at the Milwaukee County Jail and clinical specialist at Milwaukee County Hospital, now the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center. Schedler retired in 1995, moved back home and lives on the Stockbridge-Munsee Reservation.
She was a member of the Army Reserves from 1984-2004. In 2003 she was called to active duty during the Iraq War and served stateside. She had also served in Ecuador and Panama, and at military bases around the United States. She retired as a major.
Schedler contributed a chapter, Wisconsin American Indians in the Civil War, to the book “American Indians and the Civil War.”
She and Jon Schedler, a retired minister, have been married 19 years. She has two children and eight grandchildren.
Q Where do you volunteer?
A “I’m a member of the Mohican Veterans and serve on the Mohican Veterans Pow-wow Committee. I was one of the founders of the Indian Summer Festival. We’re the last festival of the year on the lakefront in Milwaukee. I’m on the historical committee. We help if the Tribal Council has a question about history. My husband and I belong to the Wolf River Wild Ones. We try to rescue native plants.”
Q What do you do for the pow-wow?
A “I’m taking over the financial paperwork, coordinating the workers and the schedules. I do the administrative work. It’s the 38th annual pow-wow. This year it’s the community honoring the Civil War veterans. There were 20,000 Native Americans who served in the Civil War. I didn’t realize my great-great-grandfather, Stephen Gardner, was in the Civil War. To me, it’s very important to honor all of our veterans. Every year at the pow-wow we honor them.”
Q What do you do for Indian Summer Festival?
A “I’m on the board of directors. Over 50,000 come. This year (Sept. 5-7), we are sponsoring the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe boxing tournament.”
Q Why do you volunteer?
A “I think volunteering is very important. It’s good as an elder to be a role model for our youth. It’s good to give back to the community. I’ve received so much and I‘m grateful for that. Annushiik — we are grateful.”
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