Norbert “Ole” J. Schroeder went to his eternal rest Thursday, March 3, 2011, surrounded by his wife and family at his home in Tomah.
Ole was born June 1, 1927, to Leo and Bertha (Herricks) Schroeder at their home farm on St. Mary’s Ridge. He graduated from Wilton High School in 1945. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth Kruk at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin on St. Mary’s Ridge. They experienced life together for the next 61 1/2 years. Their first four years of marriage were spent farming west of Wilton. Then Ole moved the family to town and became a top mechanic at Hett’s Hardware for six years. In 1959, the family moved north of Wilton, and Ole went to work at what was then Ranney’s Dairy in Tomah, driving various trucks for milk and ice cream deliveries for 33 year, leading to retirement and many stories to tell of life on the road. He was a supervisor for the Town of Wilton for many years.
Ole enjoyed playing cards ever since he had been old enough to hold them in his hand. It was a winter family pastime with his children. Beating his sons-in-law at cribbage always brought a smile to his face. The competition and comradery of bowling kept him on the alleys in Wilton and in Tomah and provided more stories to tell.
He was a faithful member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Wilton for many years. During his retirement, Ole restored the International H tractor he used when farming. The 2004 Wood Turtle Days parade included him driving his pride and joy and pulling his other pride and joy: Betty and all of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren at that time. His open smile, twinkling eye with the knowing wink and keen ability to find a friend in a room full of strangers will be missed by his family and many friends.
Ole is survived by his wife, Betty; 12 children, Patti (Jerry) Eckelberg of Wilton, Robert (Carol) of Elroy, Linda (Bill) Bauer of Spencer, Kathleen (Dick) Ballwahn, of Plymouth, Wis., Nancy Touchstone of Wilton, Theresa (David) LeDuc of Denver, Timothy (Teresa) of Kendall, Shirley (Michael) Harris of Whitmore, Calif., Jeffrey of Tomah, Judy (Shawn) Handland of Holmen, Wis., Bruce (Dawn) of Tomah, and Stephanie (Travis) Woods of Wilton; along with 29 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; four sisters, Isabelle (Jay) Ferris of Sheridan, Wyo., Margaret (Linus) Heinz of Sparta, Ramona Schroeder of Greendale, Wis., and Thelma (Richard) Dunmum of Milwaukee; and two sisters-in-law, Rita Schroeder and Louise Schroeder, both of Sparta.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Travis Schroeder; four brothers, Otto, Harold, Fritz and James; and two sisters-in-law, Carrie and Betty.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday, March 7, at St. Mary Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Tomah. Father Richard C. Dickman will officiate. Burial will be in St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, Wilton. Relatives and friends are invited to call from 4–8 p.m. Sunday at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, Tomah, and from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass on Monday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials in Ole’s name be given to Tomah Hospice in thanksgiving for the wonderful care and support they extended to him and his family during his illness.
Online condolences may be sent to www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com.
