Max Schroeder

A Celebration of the Life for Max Schroeder age 88 of Pilger, NE will be held on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 with Military Honors at 11:30 a.m. followed by a short service and lunch at thw Cooper Family Community Center in Pilger, NE. The Minnick Funeral Home in Wisner is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Erhard Gustav Maximilian Schroeder (Max) passed away peacefully on March 17th, 2025, at
the Wisner Care Center in Wisner, Ne.
Max was born March 19th, 1936, in Gnoien, East Germany to Wilma and Willy Schroeder. The
Schroeder family spent time in Poland before returning to East Germany where Max began an
apprenticeship as a cabinet maker. Max, his parents, and his brother would later escape to
West Germany and eventually immigrate to the United States where they settled in San Diego,
California. In 1958, Max joined the US Army where he gained US citizenship and learned
English. He was honorably discharged from service in 1962. Max then put his woodworking
skills to use by becoming a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. Max
built several iconic buildings and landmarks in and around the San Diego area.
Max fell in love with the open green farm life of Nebraska after helping a friend move back
home. This prompted him to move his spouse and two children, Carl and Rita, to a farm just
outside Norfolk, Nebraska. It was here that Max started up his own construction business, Max's
Woodworks. Later, Max opened his own German restaurant named Bit of Germany on the north
end of Norfolk. It was here that Max met his wife, Lorrie, and her daughter, Hillary. The couple
would go on to have their daughter, Ivy. Max was never done working. He put in many hours
helping at the Double K restaurant and Kings Ballroom. Max finished his woodworking career at
Affiliated Foods in the Pallet Shop and attended many local craft shows selling his homemade
barns and crafts.
Max still made sure there was plenty of free time to enjoy family travels, fishing, gardening,
listening to polka music, and relaxing on the front porch with a beer in hand. He could often be
found at the local bars sharing stories and telling jokes. Max was also a lifelong member of the
Madison American Legion Post.
Max was preceded in death by his parents, brother Dietrich, and ex-spouse Wilma.
Max is survived by his wife Lorrie of Pilger; daughters Hillary (Scott) Carson of Pilger, Ivy
(Dustin) Slepicka of Yutan, Rita (Marty) Wingett of California, his son Carl (Tama) Schroeder of
Las Vegas, NV; seven grandchildren, Addisyn, Landon, and Rilyn Carson, Zailey and Charlie
Slepicka, Joshua Wingett and Jonathan Schroeder. Auf Wiedersehen, Bis Bald!!