Joan A. Schroeder

Joan A. (Schwefel) Schroeder, age 92, passed peacefully on Thursday, October 2nd. Joan was born to her parents Evelyn (Zinzow) and William Schwefel in March 1933. The family established their home in Glendale WI – Joan the eldest joined by her brother Jon and sister Eve Lynn. Joan enjoyed the children in the neighborhood, swam in the Milwaukee River and rode the streetcar to visit her grandparents. Luther League provided a social and spiritual outlet for her as a young adult.

Miss Schwefel attended Valparaiso University and then transferred to Wartburg College where she met her loving husband, Dick Schroeder. McSchwefel and McSchroeder started dating on St. Patrick's Day and the rest is history. Joan and Dick married in August 1956.

Joan earned a BA in Music and secured a teaching certificate. She taught school during their first two years of marriage while Dick finished his seminary requirements. They served God in the ELCA Lutheran Church as a team. They enjoyed parishes in Aniwa/Birnamwood, Augusta/Foster, New London/Zittau, Downsville/Little Elk Creek and Pembine. Joan taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She organized choir activities and played the organ. Her artistic flair flowed into painting – murals can be found in the Sunday School rooms at Mt. Hope Lutheran Church.

The couple enjoyed 25 years of retirement in Appleton with their children and grandchildren living close by. Joan shared her artistic talents singing, offering piano and organ lessons, borrowing musical videos and painting (messy painting in the basement) with the grandkids. She hosted many holiday dinners – the ability to extend the dinner table for large crowds was incorporated into the design of their retirement home. Joan drew the floor plan for that home with one or two suggestions from her husband.

Joan and Dick were blessed with two children, seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Pat Schroeder and her daughter Vanessa lived just down the block in Appleton. Joan would take half an hour to make Vanessa a breakfast of cereal and milk while Vanessa practiced the piano – that's a sly move by the piano teacher. Vanessa married Mike Weber and they have two children, Peyton and Archie, Greendale.

Tom and Kim (Hutchison) Schroeder raised their six children in New London. The clan has grown to include Sadie (Steve) Borzynski and Georgia, Oak Creek; Ted (Heidi) Schroeder, Oconto; Rebecca (Andy) Merklein, Molly, William and Bennett, Hortonville; Samuel (Rachel) Schroeder, Caleb and Teagan, Kimberly; Charles Schroeder (Sean Philipps), Dublin Ireland; and Madeline (James) Montgomery with a baby on the way!, Spokane WA.

After Dick's passing in December 2020, Joan moved to Franklin with her daughter Pat and continued to enjoy time with family. Her health presented challenges in recent years, but her smile was contagious and her demeanor a delight.

Joan was predeceased by her husband Richard Schroeder, her father William Schwefel, her mother Evelyn Zinzow Schwefel and her brother Jon Schwefel. She is survived by her two children Pat Schroeder and Tom Schroeder, seven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and her sister Eve Lynn Keith.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 8th at First English Lutheran Church, 326 E North St., Appleton WI 54911. Visitation will open at 9 am. Pastor Mary Bauer will lead the church service at 11 am followed by the interment at Highland Memorial Park Cemetery.