William Martin Schroeder

William (Bill) Martin Schroeder, 99, peacefully joined his Lord Jesus on December 22, 2017, four days short of his 100th birthday.  He was the last of his (“The Greatest”) family’s generation having survived Jeanne Schroeder, his wife of 68 years, who died in 2011; his youngest daughter Patty; and his two younger brothers Bob and Harry.  Bill is survived by seven children, 16 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Bill was born in St. Louis, MO, on December 26, 1917, to William Henry Schroeder and Sophia Clare Schroeder (nee Glazer).  Bill grew up in St. Louis and was planning to attend St. Louis University, where he had been accepted, but after the University of Dayton offered a scholarship, and with the Great Depression underway and money tight, Bill decided to attend UD.  It was there that he studied mechanical engineering, joined Army ROTC, and met Jeanne McLaughlin.  After graduating in 1939, Bill found employment in private industry, but soon decided to take his officer’s commission at the U.S. Army’s Aberdeen Proving Ground, viewing the weapons development work there both more interesting and more valuable with the beginning of war in Europe.  At APG Bill rose to the rank of Captain.  While the work was demanding with little time off during the intensity of WWII, Bill found time to renew his friendship with and to begin courting Jeanne, who had moved to New York City after graduation from UD in 1941. After a long-distance courtship, Bill and Jeanne were married in Dayton on May 1, 1943. Their first child, Bill (Lee) of Atherton, CA, was born in 1944, followed by Tom (Barbara) of Cedar Rapids, IA; Steve (Becky) of South Boston, VA; Mary Clare of Seattle, WA; Joan of Edmonds, WA; Anne (John Chevalier) of Cheneyville, LA; Jeannette (Daniel Smith) of Hope, IN; and Patty of Hope, IN, who was born in 1961. Immediately upon cessation of hostilities in Europe, Bill was sent to Germany to assess advanced weapons that were under development there.  While in Germany, Bill was given a special assignment to track down and arrest an important German scientist, a mission he was able to successfully complete. After WWII, Bill left active service but remained in the reserves, later attaining the rank of major.  In private industry, Bill made his career in the construction machinery business, joining Tractomotive Corporation, a young company located in Deerfield, IL.  The family first lived in Libertyville and then moved to Deerfield in 1955.  Bill became general manager of the Tractomotive Division after the company was acquired by Allis-Chalmers in 1959.  In 1968, Bill was promoted to general manager of the Allis-Chalmers Construction Machinery Division, headquartered in Springfield, IL.  This necessitated moving to Springfield, which the family called home until Bill & Jeanne retired to Tucson, AZ, where they spent the final thirty years of their life together. After Jeanne’s death, Bill moved to Columbus, IN to be near his two youngest daughters, Jeannette and Patty.  During Bill’s final years he took residence in Jeannette’s home on her family farm in Hope, where he was blessed with an abundance of attentive, loving care bestowed on him by Jeannette and her family until the very end of his long, productive life. Throughout his life, Bill dedicated himself to faithfully serving Jesus, his family, and his friends.  Bill and Jeanne proudly raised their eight children.  They were exceptional parents, practicing their faith and teaching honesty and respect for others.  The care, happiness and education of their children was always a priority—among their children is a medical doctor, a lawyer, an electrical engineer, a teacher, two MBAs, and an advanced-degreed chemist. The family would like to thank Our Hospice of South Central Indiana for their wonderful care.  Most importantly, however, we thank our sister Jeannette and her family for their devoted and loving care of our father in his final years.  Memorials may be made to Columbus Alliance Church, St. Bartholomew Church, or Our Hospice of South Central Indiana.