John H. Schroeder, age 84, of West Bend, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 25, 2012 surrounded by his loving family at the Lighthouse of West Bend.
John was born on June 2, 1928 and was the son of the late Arthur and Elizabeth (nee Relow) Schroeder. Following high school John became a member of the Wisconsin National Guard serving from 1947 until 1954. On August 11, 1951 John was united in marriage to Joan Tock and together they raised three children. Joan passed away on January 10, 1987.
John was employed by the Wisconsin Electric Power Company for 37 years retiring as a crew foreman in 1988. On February 15, 1992 John was united in marriage to June Reilly. June passed away on February 1, 2012. John loved the outdoors. He especially loved fishing, hunting, and camping as well as spending time at his home in the Kettle Moraine State Forest near Dundee.
John is survived by his three children, Sally (Michael) Mertes of West Bend, Dan (Jennifer) Schroeder of Kewaskum, and Sandy (Gerard) Behlen of Fredonia; eight grandchildren, Jenny Mertes, Andy (Kimberly) Mertes, Adam (special friend Katie Brockman) Mertes, Matthew (Justin Finseth) Schroeder, Katie Schroeder, Erin Behlen, BreAnn Behlen, and Abbey (Dominic) Lang; a special great-grandson, Kadyn "Buckshot" Lang; and many other dear relatives and close friends.
Memorials to Trinity Lutheran Church would be greatly appreciated by the family.
A memorial service in honor of John will be held on Friday, June 29th at 4:00 pm at the Myrhum-Patten Funeral Home in West Bend. Rev. Richard Schliewe of Trinity Lutheran Church in Dundee will officiate. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday from 2:00 pm until the time of service. A private family burial will immediately follow the service in Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery.
I pray that I may live to fish until my dying day. And when it comes to my last cast, I then most humbly pray: When in the Lord's great landing net and peacefully asleep That in His mercy I be judged Big enough to keep!
The Family would like to extend a special thank you to Lisa, Kim, and Kathy of Cedar Community Hospice as well as Amber and the rest of the staff of the Lighthouse in West Bend for all of the wonderful care that was given to John and his family.