Cullman Times | Jacqueline Schendel- A Life of Service in Health, Charity

Jacqueline Schendel- A Life of Service in Health, Charity
By Loretta Gillespie | Cullman Times | March 31, 2012

A circuitous route brought Jacqueline Schendel to Cullman from Lake Charles, La., via New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Crowley, La.. She graduated from Westlake High School near Lake Charles in 1972. Afterward she attended McNeese State University in Lake Charles, obtaining her bachelor of arts degree in secondary education.

At the age of 15 she met her future husband, Michael, while they were both in high school. Their relationship continued after graduation, and through college. They were married in 1973, when Jacqueline was 19.

They lived in Metairie while Michael attended medical school. Young, bright, eager and energetic, she now had a degree in education, but there were few job prospects, so she went to work at the Gateway Hotel in the sales department, supporting both of them while Michael finished medical school. Jacqueline later went to work as a claims adjuster for Allstate Insurance. Michael attended LSU Medical School in New Orleans and received a doctorate degree in medicine.

The couple moved to Baton Rouge, where Michael did his residency. Allstate found a place for her in their office, so the move was a good one for both of them.

After his residency, they chose to move to Crowley, La., where his family lived. He hung out his shingle and Jacqueline became his secretary/receptionist. He practiced medicine there for eight years, but the economy started to take a nosedive. The area is known for its oil industry and Crowley is known as the rice capital of the world. This was during the days of gasoline rationing and high prices. People were moving away from the area, which left it even more depressed and forced them to look elsewhere for better opportunities.

They began looking around for another place to live, work and rear their children. With the help of a physicians search group, they scouted out prospective places in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. “We knew we wanted to stay in the South,” said Jacqueline.

“When we interviewed in Cullman we knew that this was the place,” she smiled. “It was spring and the lake beckoned us, because we both enjoyed boating activities.”

Dr. and Mrs. Schendel found the people of Cullman to be friendly, and since they belong to the Lutheran Church, they were attracted to St. Paul’s and the school there. By now they had a son, Derek, who was a third grader, and a daughter, Jennifer, who was a first grader.

They returned in the fall. They were enchanted by the pumpkins, mums, and the festivities in and around town. “I thought this was the most wonderful place,” she said.

It was a major move for the young professional couple. They had no friends, family or contacts in Cullman. With two small children, that combination was somewhat daunting.

Woodland Hospital recruited them. They still owned a building and a home in Louisiana, so they bought a modest home on Catoma Drive and began to settle into their new lives.

After only 11 months in Cullman, still adjusting to their new surroundings, Dr. Schendel, who was a Louisiana Army Reservist, was called to duty during Desert Storm.

“We had gone back to Crowley for Christmas and he found out then. I came back to Cullman and found a crisis of a different kind — our house had flooded,” she said ironically.

She pitched in, tearing away layers of wallpaper, ripping up carpets and dealing with contractors. In a way, she says, it gave her something to focus on while he was gone. She also kept going into the office, working with their new patients, giving them referrals and hoping that they would return when Dr. Schendel’s six-month tour of duty was finished.

She became a jack-of-all-trades. She learned things about herself that she didn’t know, like how strong she really was, that she could deal with life’s crises as they came, efficiently and effectively.

“My husband is a very hands-on type of guy and I value his opinion,” she said. “He likes being involved in decisions about our lifestyle, but he wasn’t here, so I had to handle everything myself.”

When he returned, they resumed their lives, and moved on to bigger and better things.

She became involved in several school related activities, the PTO, her son’s sports, “Derek was involved in soccer, so I was a soccer mom, and later he played football, which brought us in contact with many other parents,” she said.

In 1994, Dr. Schendel joined Cullman Primary Care, where he still practices today. That left Jacqueline unemployed for the first time in her adult life. “It only lasted about a year and a half, “she laughed.

She went to work at Margo’s in the historic section of downtown, and then in 1998, Dennis Borwick offered her a job at CATV2, the local television station.

“It was all on-the-job training,” she laughed. She worked there for over 10 years, and has loved every minute of it.

She left to start working at United Way, but has recently returned to co-host three mornings a week.

It is a light-hearted morning show, featuring community events and doing interviews with the likes of former Governor Bob Riley, and other dignitaries like Rep. Robert Aderholt.

“I learned a lot about advertising, editing and marketing, and it’s opened a lot of doors for me,” she said.

She began to get the Cullman spirit of community, which is contagious, and joined several civic and charity organizations.

She was involved in the now defunct Business and Professional Women’s Association, served on the Kenya Relief Board for several years, and was a committee member on the Wallace State Community College Foundation Board.

She belongs to the Alliance to the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, which has local, state and national affiliations. This organization provides help and support for medical families and medical communities. Jacqueline served as both county and state president of the organization over the years.

She also belongs to the Alliance to the Cullman County Medical Society which has an independent Breast Cancer Foundation, that helps put together gift bags for women who have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. They have also helped a few individuals with specific needs over the past few years.

Perhaps her most rewarding position has been with the United Way (UW) of Cullman County, where she has been the marketing and communications director since 2008. “My primary responsibilities include promoting United Way as well as fundraising and special events, like the upcoming ‘Wild About Girlfriends Gala’ which will be held this year at Cullman’s Stonebridge Farm on Thursday, Sept. 27,” she said.

She also coordinates The UW Day of Action. “This is a community event that will focus on education. This year’s Day of Action, ‘Born to Read,’ is an event for children through sixth grade,” she explained.

The event, held at the Cullman County Public Library, will be Thursday, June 21, with gift cards valued at $10 each to be given away, (one per family), and will feature guest readers.

Jacqueline also coordinates events like the UW Kick-Off luncheon which will be held in August, and begins United Way’s fundraising efforts. She is also responsible for all communications such as newsletters, brochures and social media.

Jacqueline belongs to the Cullman Women’s League, currently serving in the capacity of treasurer. The Women’s League helps to raise money for scholarships and for local non-profit agencies such as Victim’s Services, Brook’s Place, the Cullman Regional Medical Center’s Foundation, Cullman Caring For Kids, and others.

“I’ve always been amazed at how the Cullman County Community is willing to help when the need arises,” said Jacqueline. “The people in Cullman are amazingly caring, giving, and willing to volunteer their time and resources to help.”

According to Jacqueline, there are many issues facing the citizens of Cullman County. These issues range from hunger to homelessness and not everyone may be aware of the problems that are occurring here daily. “However, with all the services that the UW Partner Agencies provide, there are still many unmet needs,” she said.

“We encourage anyone who would like to get involved, to contact our office as the funds have decreased and the needs have increased. Those wanting to get involved can ‘Give, Advocate or Volunteer’,” she stressed.

The Schendel children both live in Nashville now. They have one grandson, Logan, who is the light of their lives.

When she has time, Jacqueline loves painting, crafting, and reading, and is a very talented and inventive hostess. “I love doing tablescapes,” she said. She likes entertaining and often delights her guests with creative themed dinners. And, of course, loves spending time with her grandson.

“The food is usually okay, but the tablescape is much better,” she laughed.

“Cullman has welcomed us,” she mused. “When we first came here the people always asked if we had children, then they asked where we went to church, because they wanted to invite us to their church, and I found that a lovely custom,” she said. “We are very pleased to call Cullman our home now and look forward to seeing it grow and prosper.”

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