Walter "Walt" Schroeder

Walter "Walt" Schroeder, age 98, of Hastings, died peacefully on Saturday, December 27, 2014 at the Augustana Health Care Center in Hastings. Walter William, the son of August and Rosa (Jacobson) Schroeder, was born on July 1, 1916 in rural Lake Park, Iowa. He attended country school and then began helping farm with his father. On February 24, 1940, Walt was united in marriage to Maxine Obermoller in Brewster. Walt continued to work on the family farm as well as helping other farmers in the area. In 1942, he and Maxine began farming on their own and continued to farm until 1963 when he started working as a custodian at Sioux Valley High School. In 1968 they moved to Hastings where Walt was head custodian at the Hastings High School until his retirement in 1984. Outside of farming and working, he enjoyed wood working, gardening and taking care of his lawn, working on cars, and most of all, spending time with his family. Walt and Maxine also enjoyed traveling with their camper and the few years they spent wintering in Texas. Walt was preceded in death by his parents; his five brothers, Harvey, Fritz, Harold, Melvin and Les; and by his two sisters, Helen Sather and Viola Johnson. He is survived by his wife of almost 75 years, Maxine; his children, Janet and Mark Hinton, Jerry and Linda Schroeder, David and Becky Schroeder, and Kathy and Gordy Pearson; his fourteen grandchildren, forty great grandchildren and eightgreat-great grandchildren; his sister, Evelyn Wendling; his sisters-in-law, Bonnie Schroeder and Luella Schroeder; and by many other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 2, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the Our Saviours Ev. Lutheran Church, 400 West Ninth St., in Hastings with Reverend Doug Duin officiating. Interment will be held at the Lakeside Cemetery in Hastings. Visitation will be held at the church for one hour prior to the service on Friday. Arrangments are being completed by the Caturia-Smidt Funeral Home Cremation Services in Hastings.