William Schroeder 11-27-24

William (Bill) Ralph Schroeder passed away Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 in Pocatello, ID. Bill was born May 23, 1930 in American Falls, ID, to Armin and Katherine Isaak Schroeder. He was second of five children and lived in the area his entire life. Bill grew up on the family farm where the three boys worked at irrigating, haying, and weeding potatoes.
Bill attended school at the Fairview Country School and graduated in 1945 with three other students. After that year, the school closed. He graduated from American Falls High School in 1948 where he played basketball and football. He was on the state basketball championship team that year.
Bill attended Bethel College in North Newton, KS, from the fall semester of 1948 to the spring semester of 1951, where he majored in chemistry. It was at Bethel where he met Anne Stucky. Bill and Anne were married on May 1, 1951 at Zoar Mennonite Church near Inman, KS. They left for Idaho the next day and began 72 years of married life. Bill farmed in the Pleasant Valley area and raised and sold registered Hereford cattle. He was a past president of the Idaho Cattle Association.
Bill was an active member at First Mennonite Church in Aberdeen where he taught Sunday School and served as Church Council Chairman numerous times. Bill was an excellent church leader and his contributions to the congregation were many. He was a life-long supporter of Mennonite causes and served on the Bethel College advisory board.
Bill was involved in many clubs and organizations in the American Falls community. He was a 4-H livestock club leader for more than 45 years and served on the Fat Stock Sale board. His years of service benefited many youth members in the area. In 2002, Bill was inducted into the Idaho 4-H Hall of Fame and the Eastern Idaho Agricultural Hall of Fame. He was also a member of the Power Country Fair Board. The community building is named in his honor.
He participated in the American Falls Lion’s Club where he enjoyed serving the community and made many friends over the years. He was also a member of the Power County Co-Op board and often reminisced about traveling for board meetings. After he and Anne moved to Pocatello in 2018, he was asked to serve as the Chairman of his HOA.
Bill’s hobbies included stamp collecting and building puzzles. He and Anne enjoyed golfing and participated in a number of local tournaments. They traveled with Elder Hostel groups and welcomed the learning opportunities these trips provided.
He is preceded in death by: his wife, Anne; brothers, Kenneth and Clarence; and sister, Ann Chrisman. He is survived by: his sister, Bonnie Kaufman, Moundridge, KS.
Bill is survived by children Susan Combs (Bill Guhl) of Hutchinson, KS, Audrey Howell (Jim) of Twin Falls, ID, and Nathan (Michelle) of American Falls, ID. Grandchildren include Sarah (Mike) Wirth, Benjamin (Candace) Combs, Matthew Schroeder, Rachel (Shawn) Walding, Armin Howell (Kelly Wilson), Mark Schroeder, and Beth (Flavio) Figueroa and 10 great-grandchildren.
Visitation with family will be held at Davis-Rose Mortuary from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5. Services will be held on Friday, Dec. 6, at First Mennonite Church in Aberdeen. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. with services beginning at 11, followed by the burial at Homestead Cemetery and meal provided by the church. Memorials may be made to First Mennonite Church or American Falls Lions Club.
Condolences and memories may be shared at www.davisrosemortuary.