WILLIAM SCHROEDER

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WILLIAM SCHROEDER 1927 - 2012 William Schroeder was born on April 8, 1927, at Pigeon Lake near St Francois Xavier, Manitoba to Wilhelm W. and Sara (Doerksen) Schroeder, recent immigrants from Ukraine, Russia. He grew up in Rosengard, near Steinbach, Manitoba, and was baptized by the Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church at age 17. He married Hildegard Enns on July 8, 1951. William completed his elementary and high school in Rosengard and Steinbach and was awarded the Governor General's medal at graduation. He continued with post-secondary studies and eventually obtained four degrees from the University of Manitoba, Mennonite Brethren Bible College in Winnipeg, and Luther Rice Seminary in Florida. William taught school for over 40 years, including time at five locations in southern Manitoba, three and a half years as a missionary in Paraguay, and the last eleven at Winkler Bible Institute. Alongside teaching he was much involved in church and conference work, serving as pastor at Domain and Horndean Mennonite Brethren churches, assistant pastor at Winkler, MB, church, and moderator and acting pastor at St. Boniface MB church. William remained active after retirement from teaching. He spent three years as associate editor of Mennonitische Rundschau, a German Mennonite periodical. He continued to do some preaching and Bible teaching, was regularly commissioned to translate historical documents from German to English, and served with several summer ministries in Ecuador, Nigeria, Russia, and Ukraine. A long time hobby was researching, collecting, translating, and writing Mennonite history, especially family history, which resulted in a substantial family archive, some published articles, and two genealogy books. William is survived by his wife Hilda; son David (Mary Lou Von Niessen) with Matthew William; daughter Ruth (Gilbert Charlie Levasseur) with Chantelle (Tristan Smith), Geneviève, Thomas William (Raquel Douchant); son William James (Zuweri Fero) with Shamisa, Mushana; daughter Sandra (Marlowe Rempel) with Henry William, Naomi; daughter Judith (Jim Falk); five step-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings Mary (Bob Loewen), Len (Mary), Harold (Mary); and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; sister Elfrieda (1997); brother Walter (2001); sister Sally (2009); brother George (2010); siblings Gerhard and Martha in infancy. William Schroeder passed away peacefully on February 10, 2012, at St. Boniface Hospital. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 14, 2012, at Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren church, 1771 Pembina Highway in Winnipeg at 2:00 p.m. with private family interment prior to the service.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 13, 2012