Norbert W. Schroeder, 77
Norbert Wayne Schroeder, 77, of Stewartville, Minn., died on Feb. 7, 2009 at Stewartville Care Center.
Norbert was born on June 4, 1931 in Grand Meadow, Minn. He grew up on the family farm, attended rural school and then attended Stewartville High School, graduating in 1949. He then enlisted and served in the Army. After his discharge he married Eileen Langworthy on May 29, 1955 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Pleasant Valley. Following their marriage, the couple lived on the Schoeder family farm in Racine and operated Schroeder Insurance Co. for over 28 years until his retirement in 1997. Eileen was a farmwife and homemaker and worked part-time as a floral arranger at Holm and Olson in Rochester, and the Spring Valley Greenhouse. She was also a self-employed cake decorator. The Schroeders moved to Stewartville in 2006. Norbert was a life-long member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, where he served on various boards and taught Sunday school. He was active in his children’s 4-H and FFA activities and belonged to the Stewartville American Legion Post 14 and the Stewartville Lions. He served on the School Board while Bonner Elementary School was built and served for over 15 years on the Mower County Fair Board and the Racine Township Board. He sang bass in the Forte-Milers choir for a number of years. He especially enjoyed following his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting and extra-curricular activities. He enjoyed time spent with friends and family.
Survivors include his wife, Eileen; son, Terry (Pat) Schroeder, Stewartville; daughter, Vicky (Karey) DeFrang, Dexter, Minn.; five grandchildren, Katie, Eric and Beth Schroeder, Scott and Ryan Schaeffer; great-granson, Brayden; three sisters, Marian Winegar, Lincoln, Calif., Phyllis Mullens, Wilsonville, Ore. and Elizabeth (Donald) Schultz, Wykoff, Minn.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Hilda (Ellinghuysen) Schroeder and two infant brothers.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Pleasant Valley, Minn. with the Reverend Ronald Prigge officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery with military honors by the Stewartville American Legion. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Griffin-Gray Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.