Irving Albert Schroeder

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Irving Schroeder Obituary

March 1935- November 2010 Irving "Irv" Schroeder died Tuesday, November 30th at his home in Briceland with his wife Freia at his side after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. Irv was born March 31, 1935 in Stockton, California to Karl and Merle Schroeder, the middle child with an older brother and younger sister. After finishing high school in Stockton, Irv attended U.C. Berkeley and graduated in 1956 with a degree in Civil engineering. After a one year stint with a private firm, Irv went to work for the Bridge Department, Division of Structure of Cal Trans, where he remained for over 36 years, retiring in 1993. Irv married right out of college and has three daughters from that union. During the 1964 flood, Cal Trans transferred Irv to the Southern Humboldt area, and he bought the mill flat in Briceland in 1966. He met and married the love of his life, Freia, in 1970 and completed their homestead/home in Briceland. During his time in Humboldt with Cal Trans District 1, Irv engineered and worked on a number of familiar bridges, including the Dean Creek bridge and ramps, the Sprowel Creek Road Artwork on the side of the 101 freeway by Garberville, the Mendocino/Humboldt County Line bridge, the double crossing bridges south of Piercy, the Twin Trees-Smith Point bridge, the Jitney Gulch stabilization after the 1986 flood, and many other projects in Mendocino County and north to the Oregon border. He volunteered his engineering skills in the early 1970's to engineer the truss bearings for the Beginnings Octagon circular roof plate. He spent many hours working with old heavy equipment, restored a vintage fire truck, and built his home and outbuildings in Briceland. Irv obtained his pilot's license in the 1960s and built a private airstrip and hangar. Irv is survived and deeply missed by his wife Freia, his three daughters, Barbara Schroeder of Sacramento, Carol Granas of Monte Sereno, and Janet Peiker of Chandler, Arizona; his sister Claire Bifano of Colorado Springs, Colorado, 7 grandchildren, and many good friends. He now joins his parents, and older brother Karl A private memorial service is being planned. Contributions in Irv's memory may be made to Heart of Redwoods Hospice, 464 Maple Lane, Garberville, 95542; or the Briceland Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 1249, Redway, 95560. Please sign the guest book at www.Times-Standard.com, click obits.

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Published by Times-Standard from Dec. 10 to Dec. 11, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Irving Schroeder

7 Entries

Dennis Manning

January 4, 2011

It was real bad news to learn of Irv's passing. I first met Irv working on the Ferndale Bridges in July 1963. By fall we had started rooming together. We were life long friends and shared a lot of interests from sking, to flying, to chasing the ladies, to endlessly talking of invention ideas. In the ladies department we both got lucky. We went our separate ways when I departed the North Coast for Fresno in 1969, but we kept in touch and visting Irv and Freia at the "Iron Farm" as I dubbed it was always a great time. Irv was my hero for his ability to go his own way with his varied activities and his unique and fascinating outlook on life.

We talked about life insurance somewhere along the line. Irv said only partially joking that he didn't want to buy any. He said, "The day I go I want it to be a REAL sad day". I don't what he ever did about life insurance, but it sure as hell was real sad day.

My symapathy goes out to all of Irv's loved ones and friends.

Leo Ferroni

December 25, 2010

With great sorrow I learned of my friend's passing.I've known Irv from 1959 Gasquet bidge. Then the Hazelview tunnel in '62, were he did gold dredge mining in the Smith Rv., or fishing from his 40'Monterey boat on his time off. At the "millyard" in '66 we graded a 1500' runway, got our pilot license, and 172. He built structures with his own lumber mill, made sculptures of steel, ground reflector mirrors for telescope, etc. A construction advisor for the Sun Dial Br in Redding, and so much more. An accomplished machinist, metal sculpturer, gunsmith, welder, equally at home in theoretical and practical and so much more. A full and unapologetic life made full with his wife Freia. I miss Irving as a brother.

Judy & Stan Murdock

December 15, 2010

Our deepest sympathies to Irv's family. Irv was a pleasure to work with. He was a genuinely good man -- always friendly, patient, and good humored, and willing to share his knowledge on myriad subjects. As Sonny Fereira pointed out, he was quite the thinker and tinker-er, not to mention inventor! Wonder how many patents he ended up with? Irv was truly one of the good ones from Division of Highways/Caltrans, and we're glad to have had the pleasure of knowing and working with him.

Sonny Fereira

December 14, 2010

My condolances are offered to Irv's family. He was a great guy, and his humor and wit were only exceeded by his compassion and passion for seeking engineering solutions, even when none were required! He was quite the thinker and tinker-er. I wish I had the opportunity to spend more time learning from, and enjoying the company of this amazing man.

joe thorne

December 11, 2010

Sorry to hear of Irv`s passing. He was a good friend. His dry wit always had me laughing. My best wishes to the family.
May the blessings be.

December 10, 2010

I would like to extemd my condolances to Freia & Irv's family. We worked together on several jobs while working for the Division of Highways & Caltrans. He was a fine gentleman & excellent engineer. When Irv & Leo got together, they could be quite the jokesters. He will be missed.

George Otterbeck (Redding, CA.)

Bart Crews

December 10, 2010

So sorry to hear of Irv's passing. I worked with Irv on many of his Division Of Highways and Caltrans Projects. He was a fine gentleman and very competent Engineer, and a pleasure to work with.

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