William S. "Bill" Schroeder, 91, of Hecla passed away March 23, 2013, surrounded by family and under the care of North Plains Hospice.
William was born Sept. 19, 1921, at Dubuque, Iowa, to William A. and Florence (Shattuck) Schroeder. He attended country school near Bernard, Iowa, until age 9, when he moved with his family to the Hecla area. He finished his schooling in Hecla, graduating from Hecla High School with the class of 1939. After his schooling, he farmed with his father, raised Polled Hereford cattle and Columbia sheep, and worked with a threshing crew. He was united in marriage to Evelyn Fritz on April 29, 1951, in Hecla. They lived their entire life on the farm, where they raised their eight children. Bill remained active in farming and ranching until he died; even when he semi-retired, he continued to keep the books. Evelyn passed away on Jan. 29, 2002.
Bill loved to travel, and especially enjoyed going to cattle and sheep shows. He also enjoyed fishing. He was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. He was also a member of the American Polled Hereford Association and was honored to have received an award for being an outstanding Polled Hereford breeder.
Family was very important to him. Grandpa Bill loved spending time with the grandkids, and always enjoyed when the door would open and it would be one of them coming for a visit.
He is survived by six sons: Jeffrey Schroeder and James Schroeder, both of Hecla, Richard (Denise) Schroeder, Rapid City, Robert (Kara) Schroeder, Rapid City, Thomas (Elizabeth) Schroeder, Des Moines, Iowa, and Todd (Moureen) Schroeder, Bath; two daughters, Nancy Knaus, Saskatoon, Canada and Ann Schroeder, Hecla; and 12 grandchildren: Zachary, Dane, Alayna, Bradley, Isabella, Hannah, Kathleen, Seth, Liam, Hayley, Kade and Casey. He is also survived by two sisters, Emeroy North, Rapid City, and Betty Hogan, Seattle, Wash.; and one brother, Bob (Ranae) Schroeder, Hecla. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Evelyn, and a son-in-law, Roger Knaus.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 26, 2013, from 6:30 to 7 p.m., with a prayer service starting at 7 p.m., at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Hecla. His funeral Mass will be Wednesday, March 27, 2013, at 2:30 p.m., also at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. Burial will be at the Hecla City Cemetery.
An online guestbook may be signed at dahlstromfuneralhome.com