For us, life is all about building strong connections and contributing to our community. Though Lincoln is a bustling city, the Country Club Neighborhood offers the small-town feel that reminds us of our roots in central Nebraska. I’m from North Platte and Jason is from St. Paul. We met at Wesleyan University. After a few years of adventure that took us to Portland, Oregon, Budapest, Hungary, and Sheboygan, Wisconsin, we decided to establish our home in Lincoln. 

We chose a spacious bungalow on a tree-lined street (Ryons). It has been the perfect place to spend the last 20 years and raise our three boys. Benjamin, our oldest, is back in Lincoln after attending college in Illinois. His apartment is only a mile from our house so he hangs out with us when he can. Daniel, a sophomore at the University of Kansas, is studying supply chain management. Charles is a senior at Lincoln High and runs on the Links cross country and track team.

Our family spends lots of time together at home. Our pastimes include reading books or playing the baby grand piano in our living room, watching movies together, and playing games at the dining room table.

Jason works in advertising at Swanson Russell, and I teach at Prescott Elementary School. After serving many years on the Prescott PTO, I became an LPS English language teacher. For twelve years I have been teaching immigrant children, and I love it. My class at Prescott includes children from Guatemala, Afghanistan, Sudan, Iraq, Ecuador and Thailand. It is such a joy to see my students and their families at the library or Stransky Park. 

Our tabby cat, Appa, was a pandemic adoption. We named him after a character in the animated series we binge-watched during covid. Appa likes to be outside but stays close to home.

Our favorite neighborhood spot is our church, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. We were drawn in by the charm of the Tudor-style church at 24th and Sewell Street. It is a 100-year-old neighborhood church. Many members are also neighbors and our friendships with them have spanned decades. We like the way our church supports the surrounding neighborhood and schools through the backpack program, holiday meals, the annual block party and providing a gathering space for community programs.

The Schmaderers are walkers. We walk to the library. We walk to worship, and I walk to work (my workplace is just 3 blocks from home). In October we are often found walking at Pioneers Park and taking in the fall colors while we watch Charles run. Jason and I walk and jog around the neighborhood enjoying the beautiful homes and gardens along the way and chatting with neighbors. The kind and familiar faces we encounter daily add to the richness of our lives.

Our family, our neighbors, our jobs, and our church are intertwined with this neighborhood. It feels like we are living in a small Midwestern town with all the sophistication and opportunities of the capital city.