Robert Wendell Schrader

Passed away on July 2, 2025, about 3 weeks short of his 94th birthday. Bob was predeceased by his beloved wife Barbara of 59 years, parents Wendell and Arlene Schrader, brother and sister-in-law Bill and Barbara Schrader, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Ann and Erwin Delano, and nephew Mike Schrader. He is survived by his daughter Patricia Schrader of Rochester, sister and brother-in-law Nancy and Gary Wehlage of Louisville, KY, nieces Cheryl Gerkin of Tucson, AZ, Cindy Benson of Unionville, IN, Julie Theiler of Louisville, KY, Cathy Stone of Solsberry, IN, and nephew Scott Wehlage of Washington, MO.
Bob was born and raised in Illinois and lived in several small towns as a child while his father was a high school agriculture teacher. After graduating from Tuscola High School, he continued his education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he received his bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering. Assuming he would likely be drafted into the army, he completed ROTC while in college.
Bob made the choice to come to Rochester and work for Eastman Kodak where he would receive numerous patents. Early on, he took a year off from Kodak to return to the University of Illinois to obtain a Master's degree in Business. He also had to temporarily leave Kodak for 2 years to serve in the Army Corp of Engineers, where he would be sent to Korea for a year just at the time that the war had ended. After his military service, he returned to Kodak for the rest of his career and was credited with 37 years of employment.
After residing in Rochester for about 10 years, he would meet and marry his wife Barbara, who would always say that marrying him was the best thing that ever happened to her. They were married in January of 1965 at St. Peter and Paul's Church in Rochester. They enjoyed 59 years of marriage and were completely compatible and the perfect companions for each other.
As he was fulfilling his marriage promise to raise his daughter Patricia in the Catholic faith, Bob decided to begin the process of converting from the Methodist faith to the Catholic faith. Once he was retired from Kodak, he applied to become a deacon in the Catholic Church. After 4 years of study, and also receiving a Masters of Divinity degree, he was ordained in June of 1997 by Bishop Clark. His first assignment for 2 years was at the Rochester Psychiatric Center, where he had done field work while studying to be a deacon. At this same time, he was also assigned to Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Brighton. His second and longest deacon assignment was to the City West Parishes, where he spent 8 years serving at Holy Family, Holy Apostles, and St. Anthony parishes. He would assist at masses, give homilies, help with marriages and funerals, work with senior citizens, plus anything else that needed his assistance.
After retiring from the diaconate at the mandatory age of 75, he would continue helping with Communion and prayer services at Monroe Community Hospital, St. Padre Pio Chapel in Gates, and the Monroe Developmental Center. He also volunteered at Mt. Carmel House comfort care home where he would provide direct care to residents. This was in addition to still helping out some at Our Lady of Lourdes Church by giving homilies, helping with the RCIA program, and many other things.
Bob's family in the midwest was very important to him, and he almost always managed to travel out to attend the Schrader family reunion that was held every 2 years--usually in either Illinois, Indiana, or Wisconsin. He would also make a trip to northern Wisconsin every summer so he could visit his parents, aunt, and any other relatives also visiting. He often liked to visit in late July so that he and his sister Nancy could gather and celebrate their same July 28 birthday together (he being 5 years older).
Bob liked to hike, maintain his yard and garden, and was an avid follower of sports on TV-mainly football. He liked to read (was always interested in American History) and attend Rochester Philharmonic concerts and operas with Barbara.
Thank you to the skilled and caring nurses, respiratory therapists, and CNAs at Clifton Springs Nursing Home, 3100 unit, for the excellent care given to Bob during the 4 months he resided there before his death.
A humble, reserved, and caring man, his first priorities were always to his family and making a difference in people's lives. Friends are invited to attend his funeral mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Wednesday, July 16 at 11am, with visitation for an hour beforehand in the church starting at 10am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Open Door Mission, 156 N. Plymouth Ave., Rochester NY 14608 or to Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 150 Varinna Drive, Rochester, NY 14618.