Obituary of Richard A. Schroeder

Richard (Dick) passed away at Cherrywood Advanced Living November 2nd, 2015. Dick was born in Paynesville, MN. At an early age he moved with his family to Mankato, MN where he ultimately earned a BS degree in Education and a Masters degree in Counseling. He married his sweetheart, Marlene Jean Root, in 1957, in Waseca, MN. They were married for 58 years spending most of their married life in St. Joseph, MN where they raised their children. In his later and more reflective years, he was most proud of his ability to educate himself out of poverty and ultimately become a psychologist. Dick established the counseling program in Wells High School in Wells, MN. He then left Wells to establish the counseling/career services department at the College of Saint Benedict, which he directed for 28 years. Dick was deeply loyal to his country, serving in the United States Army as a translator during the Korean War. His passion for tennis extended into coaching the St. John's University tennis team for many years. In his later life, Dick worked as a volunteer for the Foster Grandparent Program at Discovery School. He had a core commitment to stewardship for his community, especially the Minnesota outdoors. Dick was deeply grateful for his wife Marlene and their four children: Gretchen (Becker) and husband Steve, Rick and wife Penny Schroeder, M. Cooper Boone and husband Mark Veeder, Christa (Theisen) and husband Allen. He was perpetually delighted by his grandchildren: Megan Schroeder, Liesl Paulsen, Lauren and Katie Becker, Jack, Raymond, Grace and Rachel Theisen, Crosby and CeliaRose Boone Veeder. In respect of Dick's request, his life will celebrated at a future date during a private gathering. He will be laid to rest at Fort Ripley Cemetery in Little Falls, MN. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, all memorials be donated to the local food shelf in his name. He was preceded in death by his Mother Agatha, along with brothers Bill and Bob. The family extends their deepest gratitude to the exceptional staff at Cherry- wood Advanced Living, CentraCare Hospice and the VA Adult Activity Center.