WILLIAM SCHRAAD

1932 - 2020

William Theodore "Bill" Schraad Sr.
December 31, 1932 - August 5, 2020

EDMOND
William Theodore "Bill" Schraad Sr., 87, of Edmond, OK, passed away peacefully on Aug. 5, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, his immediate family held a private service.
Bill was born in his parents' house in Merrill, IA on Dec. 31, 1932, to Bernard "Ben" Schraad and Margaret Langel Schraad. As a young child, his family relocated to the small farming town of Adrian, MN. Bill's ceaseless perseverance and entrepreneurial spirit were reflected throughout his life as he transitioned from growing up on a farm with no electricity, to joining the military, to starting a family, to founding his own business. His strong-willed nature, welcoming persona, and lifelong generosity were always felt by his family, friends, and business partners; he never failed to give his grandkids a big "squeeze" when he saw them.
Bill's tenacity and grit were undeniable. He worked tirelessly on his family's farm to ensure both the crops and the livestock flourished. The work was exhausting, but it instilled in him a love for being outdoors and working with his hands that would stay with him throughout his life. Bill would later take his love of working outdoors to the U.S. Army. He quickly rose to the rank of corporal, and he never failed to show pride in his service on Veterans Day or the Fourth of July. Bill's resilience is perhaps best encapsulated by this: One month after being run over by the family's big, red tractor in 1996, he stood to walk his daughter, Mary, down the aisle.
Bill never shied away from the chance to defeat a challenge with elbow grease. As one of his daughters aptly summarized, "He didn't hesitate, he took charge." Whether it was renting a bus to rescue his daughters' spring break trip, changing his grandson's tire with an ax, or single-handedly saving the family's pony after it fell into a swimming pool, Bill's "get it done" attitude never failed to shine through.
One of his proudest achievements was founding Schraad & Associates in Oklahoma City in 1967, now one of the largest regional food brokerages in the United States. Bill led with incredible skill and often worked six days a week to make sure that everything in the business was up to his high standards. He became widely known as a powerful force with a feisty sense of humor. Through 2018, he still went into the office every day to roam the hallways with his bright pink walker. Bill was a prominent figure in the food brokerage world, won numerous National Broker of the Year Awards, and served on multiple manufacturer advisory boards. Schraad & Associates was an integral part of his life that he wanted to share with those he loved. Bill could always count on a visit from his grandchildren with a promise of candy from his sample room, and he passed down the passion for the brokerage business to his children. His son, Bill Jr., is now the President and Chief Executive Officer, and his daughter, Nancy, serves as the Chief Financial Officer.
Bill met his wife of 61 years, Ethel McDonald Schraad, at a dance in a small town near Luverne, MN, and within weeks, he was introducing her as "the woman I'm going to marry." He was proven right, and they married on Nov. 22, 1958. From enjoying nightly talks before dinner to jointly supporting his growing business, Bill and Ethel were true partners in life. For their children, Bill and Ethel's relationship was a shining example of mutual love and respect between husband and wife.
Bill also made a point to have a strong, guiding presence in his five children's lives. When his first child, Patty, was young, he would pull her in a wagon to the local library every Saturday to pick out a new set of books for the week. As his family grew, he would take them all on adventures to the small river near the house to go ice skating. He was always sure to be home for dinner every night and would travel any distance necessary to attend his children's school and athletic events. As his children grew older, he made sure that they always had a car to drive even if he had to tie some of the parts back together with baling wire. Through both his words and his actions, his five children always felt his affection and love.
Bill was grounded by his deep devotion to his Catholic faith. His education at the Catholic school in Adrian, MN laid the foundation for his continued service and leadership in the community throughout his adult life. Bill attended service every Sunday without fail at St. John's Catholic parish throughout his children's upbringing, and later was as a founding family of the St. Monica's parish, where he served on numerous committees. He was always willing to offer his time and talent to the church and his communities.
Throughout his life, Bill's curiosity about the world, inspired by Ethel's love of travel, spurred many adventures both within the United States and abroad. Bill and Ethel organized frequent road trips for the family to places like Silver Dollar City, which usually entailed squeezing all five kids and the family dog into the station wagon. Before leaving on the road trips, he always made sure to yell that they "ain't stopping for nothing." Bill thoroughly enjoyed all of his travels, including his trips to Angel Fire, NM and his many trips to the lake with friends. He and Ethel also visited many locations around the world, including Europe, North America, Central America, and Africa. One particular adventure led him to West Africa to visit his daughter, Jacqui, when she was in the Peace Corps.
Bill's generosity and devotion to the people he cared about spilled over into all of his relationships. He always knew how to make everyone in the room feel comfortable and welcome. Whether he was introducing himself to a competitor in the food industry or the newest family in the neighborhood, his infectious energy and authentic kindness easily won everyone he met over. Over the years, Bill and Ethel's group of close friends grew, with them often having dinners, hosting Bridge game nights, and going on vacations together. These friendships brought Bill immense happiness and were one of the most important aspects of his life.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Ethel; and his parents. Bill is survived by children, Patricia Lee, Nancy Schraad, Mary Beth Schraad (Dennis Roy), William Schraad Jr. (Elizabeth), and Jacqui Schraad; grandchildren, Katherine Lee, Steven Lee (Haley), Kristin Nicole Jevsevar (Matthew), Philip Holsted, Erin Holsted, Christopher Roy, Gillian Roy, Garrett Schraad, and Hayden Schraad; great-granddaughter, Laurel Lee; sisters, Mary Schutz (Virgil) and Jane Melvin; and brothers, Thomas Schraad (Pat), and Joseph Schraad (Phyllis).
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the William and Ethel Schraad Scholarship at the Oklahoma Grocers Education Foundation would be appreciated. Checks specifying this scholarship can be mailed to: P.O. Box 18716, Oklahoma City, OK 73154.