Charles Schroeder

Charles “Charlie” Schroeder, 72, of Dorchester passed away Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI. A Celebration of Christian Faith Service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 13 at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Eitzen, MN. Rev. Todd Krueger will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Following the burial, the celebration will continue at the Eitzen Community Center until 7 p.m. A visitation will be from 12 noon until the time of service Saturday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, Charlie’s wishes were for donations to be made to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran School in Caledonia, MN, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund in Eitzen, MN or the Fred and Bertha Schroeder Scholarship Fund at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN.

Charlie was born August 31, 1946 in Caledonia, MN to Robert and Mabel (Weber) Schroeder. Charlie was baptized and confirmed at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Eitzen, MN. He was a 1964 graduate of Waukon High School. After high school, he served in the National Guard.

Charlie farmed on the family farm in Dorchester all of his life. In addition to farming, he hauled canned milk for the Eitzen Coop Creamery, drove school bus for many years for the Allamakee Community School District, worked for Meiner’s Lumber in Caledonia, MN and worked for the Operating Engineers Local 139 until his retirement.

September 2, 1994, he married Nancy (Papenfus) Cordes in Brownsville, MN. Charlie was a lifelong member of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Eitzen, MN, where he served in various capacities on the Church Council. He also was a member of the Eitzen Lion’s Club, the Eitzen Fire Department and the Loveless-Eikens American Legion Post 191 of Caledonia, MN.

Charlie was an avid fisherman and hunter with his passion being his elk hunting trips out west. He also enjoyed league bowling. Family life was very important to Charlie. He especially enjoyed holiday get-togethers. In recent years, he and Nancy looked forward to their times spent at their retirement homes in South Dakota and Arizona.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy, of Dorchester; his step-children, Buck (Sara) Cordes and Wade Cordes, both of Caledonia, MN; four step-grandchildren, Carter Mann, Riley Cordes, Alivia Cordes and Gavin Cordes; two sisters, Roberta Kiekbusch of Winona, MN and Janelle (Gary) Eckelberg of Dolliver; one brother, Fred (Lisa) Schroeder of Garner; and many nieces and nephews. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Gerald in infancy and James (Lynn) Schroeder; a brother-in-law, Gerald Kiekbusch; and two nephews, Travis Eckelberg and Steve Kiekbusch.

Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Caledonia Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent at www.jandtfredrickson.com.