Laverne Schroeder

L. E. "Gus" Schroeder, age 79 of Melrose died Sunday, April 4, 2004 at St. Michael's Hospital in Sauk Centre.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 7 at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose with Rev. Vincent Lieser officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard. Private inurnment will take place Friday at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday and from 8 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Melrose Veterans Honor Guard will pray at 7 p.m. immediately following will be prayers from the Hommes Chevaux 40 & 8 and parish prayers will be at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home in Melrose.

Gus Schroeder was born on August 24, 1924 in Luzerne, Iowa to William G. and Edna (Niebes) Schroeder. He graduated from Belle Plaine High School in 1941. He served in the Army Air Force as a pilot during World War II in December of 1943 to 1946. He was united in marriage to Irene "Fitzie" Fitzgerald on October 27, 1949 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Belle Plaine, Iowa. The couple moved from Belle Plaine to Milbank, SD. There Gus was employed as a general manager with Northern Propane Gas Service from 1949 to 1955. They moved to Fergus Falls where he worked as a manager of Consumers Gas Company from 1955 to 1966. They then moved to Melrose where he managed the Melrose Memorial Company. In later years, he was a past American Legion Manager and a bartender at local establishments. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, president of Milbank, SD Jaycees, served on Milbank, SD volunteer fire department, president of Lake Region Racing Association, lifetime member and past commander of American Legion Post 101 in Melrose, West Stearns County Commander American Legion, 40 & 8 member and Past Chef DeGare, Eagles member, and past director of Northwoods Boxer Club. Gus enjoyed camping, gardening, motorcycles, flying and had a love for Boxer dogs.

Survivors include his wife, Irene "Fitzie" Schroeder of Melrose; children, Stephanie Gilbertson (Neal) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Debra Jurek (Edward) of St. Cloud and Teresa Leach (Richard) of St. Cloud; grandchildren, Andrea Gilbertson, Rebecca Timm (Chad), Lucas Jurek, Hannah Leach and John Leach.

Gus was preceded in death by his parents, William and Edna Schroeder; great-grandson, Ethan Timm; and sister, Letha Fintel.

Serving as honorary bearers will be Marv Stueve, Jim Kraker, Curly Wiehoff, Earl Wiehoff, Willie Middendorf, Mike Ogle, Mike Klaphake, Jackson Rolfzen, Virgil Metzger, Gordy Olson, Larry Wiechmann and Roger Mehr.