John Phillip Schroeder

Rev. John Phillip Schroeder went home to be with our Savior Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, on April 5, 2025 at the age of 83 years. Pastor Schroeder died peacefully due to complications from multiple chronic illnesses and surrounded by his family. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on February 18, 1942, to Rev. Arnold H. Schroeder and his wife Gertrude (nee Kirst).
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Susan Irene (nee Rengstorf); daughters Kristin (Erich "Ric") Stuebs of Nicholasville, KY and Cynthia (Dennis Acevedo) Schroeder of Nicholasville, KY; and by son John Schroeder of Milwaukee, WI. He is further survived by grandchildren Aisley and Hailey Stuebs of Nicholasville, KY; Liam and Greta Schroeder of Milwaukee, WI; and Charles "Charlie" Acevedo of Nicholasville, KY. He was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, Rev. Walter (Irene nee Hanson) Rengstorf; brothers-in-law, John Rengstorf and Stephen Rengstorf; as well as several aunts and uncles. Pastor Schroeder had no siblings.
Pastor Schroeder attended and graduated from St. James Lutheran Grade School in Milwaukee, WI (1955); Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, WI (1959); Northwestern College in Watertown, WI (1964); and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI (1968). He served in the ministry of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) for a combined 38 years at Viroqua and Portland, WI; Kimberly, WI; and Caledonia, WI. He retired from the active ministry in October of 2006. He and his wife Susan moved to Lawrenceburg, KY in 2007 and lived on Beaver Lake until 2020. Thereafter, they moved to Nicholasville, KY and lived there until his death. Since 2012, Pastor Schroeder and his wife were active members of Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church in Louisville, KY.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 10, 2025 at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home (3421 Harrodsburg Road, Lexington, KY) with visitation from 9:30-11:00 AM EDT and funeral service at 11:00 AM EDT. Pastor Steven Lange (Hope Ev. Lutheran Church, Louisville, KY) will be officiating. Interment will follow the funeral service at Bluegrass Memorial Gardens in Nicholasville, KY. Memorial gifts may be made to Hope Ev. Lutheran Church or to the WELS Church Extension Fund.
Funeral livestream will be available at www.facebook.com/kerrbrothers/live_videos.