Louis Schroeder

Louis Joseph (Louie) Schroeder, age 83, passed away peacefully in the presence of family and under hospice care at Kindred Hospital in Northlake, IL and was welcomed to heaven on Sunday, December 1, 2013. He was born May 18, 1930 to the late George and Armeline (Proulx) Schroeder. On June 20, 1953 he and Joan Pischel were united in marriage in West Chicago, IL. Louie was a 1950 graduate of Merrill Senior High School where he was MVP of the Merrill Bluejay football team in 1948, was a cheerleader, played saxophone in the band and also played for the 1949 Merrill Foxes Football Club. During high school he held jobs as a taxi driver and bell hop at the Badger Hotel. After graduation, Louie began studying and playing football at Marquette University. In 1951 he joined the Air National Guard where he spent the majority of his time as a Military Police Officer with the 128th Refueling Wing in Milwaukee, WI. In 1953, he joined the Milwaukee Police Force where he spent 11 years before joining the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Department in Chicago IL. Along the way, Louie and Joan raised seven children together. Louie retired in 1984 as a Senior Master Sergent after 33 years in the Air National Guard and after 20 years as a Criminal Investigator with the IRS. In 1985, he returned home to Merrill after residing in Park Forest, IL, for nearly 20 years. Never one to sit still, he quickly filled his schedule in retirement with employment as a bus driver and monitor for the Peterson Bus Company, leading groups for Weight Watchers, singing Barbershop music, participating in Silver M activities, and bowling for the Jesus Pinbusters. He was an active member of St. Francis Catholic Church and never let an opportunity to go fishing pass him by, splitting his time between musky and walleye. He was an avid Packer, Badger and Bluejay fan. Any spare time was spent travelling and visiting with family and friends. Surviving Louie are sons Joseph (Carol), Mesa, AZ; John (Yamile), San Diego, CA; Edward (Kathryn), Loveland, CO; Michael (Bonnie), New Lenox, IL; Stephen (Kathy), Mt Pleasant, WI; and David (Rebecca), Wheat Ridge, CO; Daughter Mary (Dean) Ritzmann, Peotone IL and grandchildren Karen, Lisa, Christopher, Jeffrey, Willow, Katie, Megan, Christina, Stephanie, Kathryn, Claire, Collin, Morley and Estelle. Also surviving are his sister Jeannine Beaulier and brother-in-law Ronnie Beaulier, Kenosha, WI, sister-in-law Mary Paulos, Chicago, IL, sister-in-law Joyce Pischel, Charlotte, NC, many nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Joan after 50 years of marriage, an infant son Christopher Peter and his brother Georgie Schroeder. Funeral Mass will be held at 5:00pm, Friday January 10, 2014 at St. Francis Catholic Church 1708 East Tenth Street followed by a supper at the Church Hall. Visitation will be from 3:00pm – 4:30pm at Waid Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials for Louie may be donated to St. Francis Catholic Church. Waid Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be made at www.waidfuneral.com.

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Visitation
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Visitation
Thursday, January 10, 2013

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