Gregory James Schroedter

Schroedter, Gregory James 65, died peacefully in his sleep at his Evanston home on Sunday, October 14. The former partner at Chicago law firm Bell Boyd & Lloyd LLP (now K&L Gates LLP) had been battling cancer since 2002. Shortly after his cancer diagnosis, doctors predicted he had less than a year to live. It wasn't the first time Mr. Schroedter had received such a grim medical diagnosis. While still in his early 30s, he was diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder systemic lupus erythematosus; doctors also said at the time he might never grow old. But Mr. Schroedter did and did it in a way that inspired his family and friends. He faced many medical challenges, quietly and courageously. He had a ready smile and a generous spirit. He will be missed by all who knew him. Mr. Schroedter was a proud son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, intelligence, compassion and poise. He was a successful labor attorney who was active in the North Shore community; most recently he served on the board of the North Shore Senior Center in Northfield. He was born Oct. 26, 1946 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He and his parents Edward and Frances Schroedter and younger siblings Katherine and Thomas grew up in the Milwaukee area and were members of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Mr. Schroedter earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Wisconsin in 1969. A year later he married Jo Ellen Carone, a fellow University of Wisconsin graduate and native of the Milwaukee suburb Hales Corners. The couple had two children Andrew Gregory and Emily Marie. In 1972, Mr. Schroedter received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin, having interned at well-known law firm Michael Best & Friedrich LLP. They moved to Evanston after Mr. Schroedter found a job at a law firm in Chicago. He later joined Bell Boyd's labor and employment law department, where his specialties included collective bargaining, employment discrimination suits and other workplace matters. He was well-respected in his field, appearing as a legal expert on local radio and TV, lecturing at national seminars, contributing to various legal publications and serving as the chairman of the Labor Law Section Council of the Illinois State Bar Association. He volunteered his time and expertise at Evanston's St. Athanasius School and North Senior Center, where he was general counsel and a board member from 2002 to 2009. After retiring in 2009, Mr. Schroedter and his wife divided their time between Evanston and Naples, Florida. He loved retirement, spending time with family (his grandson Theodore Andrew was born in 2010), swimming, traveling, playing tennis, reading, discussing politics and dining out. He is survived by his wife Jo Ellen; son Andrew (Lindsey) Schroedter; daughter Emily (Dan Stankiewicz) Schroedter; grandson Theodore Andrew Schroedter; father Edward Schroedter (wife Dianne Schroedter) of Tulsa; sister Katherine Schroedter of Chicago; brother Thomas (Peggy) Schroedter, of Tulsa; sister-in-law- Denise Zutz of Naples; nephews Paul (Haley) and Philip Schroedter, of Tulsa; and niece Andrea Zutz of Naples. Visitation: Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 from 4 p.m. to 8 PM at Donnellan Family Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Blvd., at Old Orchard Rd, Skokie, IL, 60077. Funeral mass: Friday, Oct. 19, 2012 at 10 AM at St. Athanasius Roman Catholic Church, 1615 Lincoln St., Evanston, IL60201. Burial to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, 9900 Gross Point Rd, Skokie, IL, 60076. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to North Shore Senior Center, 161 Northfield Rd., Northfield, IL 60093 or online (www.nssc.org). Funeral Info: 847/675-1990 or www.donnellanfuneral.com.