Ralph Howard Schroeder
Ralph Howard Schroeder, age 84, died peacefully Wednesday, July 24, 2019.
Born and raised in Waukegan, IL to Walter and Edna (Rebbe) Schroeder on May,27, 1935. He was the second youngest child of five. He was preceded in death by his brother, Earl Schroeder and his sisters , Florence Nevill and Eleanor Spaid and survived by his sister, Barbara Reich.
Ralph is a veteran of the United States Army where he served and trained under the same unit as Elvis Presley which Ralph often times reminisced about the crowds of women that would be at the train stations during their tour. He was honorably discharged after an injury to his eye.
Ralph married Carolyn Buck on July 8, 1961, and they had two sons, Kevin and Kerry and made their home in Waukegan, IL.
He worked 30 years at Johnson Motors (OMC). After the death of his wife, Carolyn, he opted for early retirement so that he could concentrate his energies on his family. Eventually, he moved to Temecula, California and helped his son Kevin care for and raise his granddaughter, Nicole. He resided with Kevin and Maredith in Gilbert, Arizona throughout the remaining of his life enjoying numerous family celebrations, events and travel.
Influenced by watching his father build their home, he enjoyed wood-working, making toys and puzzles for his granddaughter, nieces and nephews. He even taught his daughter in law, Maredith, to use the table saw.
He had a love for all animals. He had many dogs and cats throughout his lifetime, and Ralph outlived his pet cockatiel, Clyde whom we he had for 28 years, by only a week. We like to think that Clyde knew that he had served his purpose in this life and was to accompany Ralph in the afterlife.
He enjoyed many sports. He followed the Chicago Bulls,
Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bears but eventually became a fan of the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Cardinals and Arizona Diamond Backs when he moved to Arizona. He attended numerous football, baseball and basketball games and would often visit different stadiums in his travels.
He was a man of few words, which he got from his father, so when he talked people would listen. He loved to be in the company of family and friends. His witticism, which he got from his mother, often times got him into trouble. He would get misdiagnosed at the doctors office answering physician with his quips and would have to be accompanied by Kevin or Maredith to keep him in line. Ralph’s kindness, generosity and sense of humor will be greatly missed.
Ralph is survived by son, Kevin Schroeder and Daughter-in-Law, Maredith Estrada-Schroeder and son, Kerry Schroeder. He also leaves behind three grandchildren, Carolyn Nicole Schroeder, Isabella Lakovskaia and Nikolas Lakovsky.
Services will be held Friday, August 9th, 2019 at 11am at Northshore Garden of Memories, North Chicago, IL. He will be interred next to his beloved wife, Carolyn.
