Ethel Irene (Cross) SCHRODER

SCHRODER, CROSS, MCMICHAEL, PIMPER, KRAEMER, EVANS, SPERRY, SCHAPER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/2/2016 at 22:06:20

April 9, 1919 ---- April 22, 2005

Rockford, MI -- Mrs. Ethel Irene Schroder, age 86, passed away on Friday, April 22, 2005, at Bishop Hills Elder Care Community. She lived the last six years of her life in Rockford, where she moved to be near the family of her son, Gary. She became a member of Rockford United Methodist Church and looked forward to its annual Diamond dinners for the church's senior members. Family and friends were her main interest in life. For two decades, the highlight of her summer was the Cross family reunion, first at Lake Okoboji, Iowa, and later at Potosi, MO, surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and dozens of her brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews. She also cherished her former co-workers at Harris Bank in Roselle, IL. Led by regional bank president Maureen Bell, they made twice-a-year pilgrimages to Rockford for memorable visits. She worked at the bank for more than 30 years, first as a bookkeeper, and later as bookkeeping supervisor. After her "retirement", she returned to work part time until age 77.

She was born April 9, 1919 in Goldfield, Iowa, one of seven children in the family of Adam and Clara Cross. She graduated from high school in Galt, Iowa, in a class of four. She met Willis, her husband of 35 years, in Galt, and their courtship was interrupted for three years while he served in the Army during World War II. Upon his return in 1945, they eloped and were married in Kansas City, MO. He predeceased her in 1980. They moved to Bloomingdale, IL in 1956. She lived in the same house, surrounded by the same neighbors, for 43 years. She worked at Countryside News Agency in Bloomingdale before beginning her career at what is now Harris Bank.

She is survived by her children, Gary and Sue Schroder, of Rockford and Janice McMichael, of Mesa, AZ; three sisters, Mrs. Lucille (Eldon) Schroder, of Beloit, WI, Mrs. Viola (Al) Pimper, of Kearney, NE, and Mrs. Evelyn (A.E.) Kraemer, of Minnetonka, MN; her grandchildren, Lindsey and Joshua Evans, Erika Schroder, Kim Sperry, Jeffery and Kim Schaper and Bryant Schaper; and six great-grandchildren.

The service for Mrs. Schroder will be Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 o'clock at Rockford United Methodist Church with Pastor Jan Rogacki officiating. Interment in Lakewood Memorial Park in Elgin, IL. Those desiring an expression of sympathy may consider The Activities Fund at Bishop Hills Elder Care Community or Visiting Nurses Hospice. Friends may meet with Mrs. Schroder's family from 3 to 5 on Monday afternoon at the funeral home. The Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford. Michigan.

Grand Rapids Press --- Michigan
April 24, 2005