Cecil C Schrader

Cecil Carl Schrader was born March 2, 1931 at the family home at rural Hope, Kansas, the son of Carl and Mildred (Meuli) Schrader. He passed away peacefully from a very short illness on February 19, 2025 at Village Manor in Abilene at the age of 93 surrounded in his last days by his large family.
Cecil was preceded in death by the love of his life Wilma Jean "Jeannie" Zeigler Schrader in 2014 after 64 years of marriage, his parents, Carl and Mildred, one sister Doreen Rufener, and his brother-in-law Gale Rufener and Wayne Zeigler. He is survived by his sons Charles and his wife MaryAnn Schrader of Englewood, Colorado, Calvin and his wife Diane Schrader of Leavenworth, Kansas, Lon and his wife Kelly Schrader of Abilene, his brother Lyle and his wife Leona of Abilene, brother-in-law Curt Zeigler of Junction City, Kansas, eleven grandchildren, twenty seven great grandchildren, and one great great grandson as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Cecil attended grade schools at Stony Hill and Navarre and graduated from the Dickinson County High School in Chapman with the class of 1949.
He spent his early years doing the farm work with his father and maternal grandfather Leonard Meuli. Like many of his generation, he assumed many of the adult responsibilities of the farm work at a very early age. While playing the all-county grade school basketball tournament at Abilene he met a girl from the Chronister School named Jeannie Zeigler, soon after, determining that she was the one for him. They married on August 27, 1950 at Buckeye Church and soon started raising three sons. After a few years of farming, Cecil went to work for Kansas Power and light in Abilene in 1956. He worked in several capacities with them until retiring in 1986. In 1957 he and Jeannie moved into a small farm house where he lived for the next 68 years. After retirement he continued keeping a small herd of cattle and opened a repair shop. He and Jeannie traveled quite a bit in their retirement years. In the late 90's and for the following 15 years, they traveled to the Black Hills of South Dakota every summer. Then they temporary resided and worked at the Lutheran Church operated Elderhostel Guest Ranch, known at that time as the Atlantic Mountain Ranch. They made many friends, there and thoroughly enjoyed that experience. He and Jeannie rarely, if any, missed any sporting or other events of their boys and grandchildren's.
Cecil was a lifelong active member of the New Basel Church. He was strong in faith and strong in will. He was typically quiet and didn't care to bring attention to himself. However, he maintained an exceptional memory all of his life and if so moved could recite a good many accurate stories. He knew and could remember the names or an incredible number of people throughout his lifetime.
Funeral services for Cecil will be 10:00 am Monday, February 24, 2025 at the New Basel Church. His final resting place will be in the Union Livingston Cemetery. His family will receive friends from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Sunday evening at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Dickinson County, New Basel Church, or to the Outlaw Ranch and may be sent in care of the Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home, 414 NW 3rd, Abilene, Kansas 67410.