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Service:
Celebration of life to be held at a later date
Funeral home:
Fricke-Calvert-Schrader, Lincoln
Obituary
David Wary Schroder, 78 years young,
left this world to discover wonderful things in the
next one on July 24th, 2021.
David was born in Miami Florida to
Dr. Harold Mared Schroder and Anna Coe Bushnell, the
eldest of three rambunctious brothers. David's
lifelong love of learning started early when he
entered first grade at the age of four.
His family lived in Pontiac Illinois
where his father was the town doctor. He won the
science award in high school and did his
undergraduate at Northwestern University with a
minor in German.
Recently uncovered pictures prove he
was quite the party animal in his fraternity PKA.
He spent a summer working in the
laboratory at the Bad Orb sanitarium in Germany. He
then continued his education at Illinois State
University where he met his wife Barbara, a
housemate of a childhood friend.
Dave and Barb moved to Lincoln where
Dave worked at Lincoln College from 1967 until his
second retirement 2012. He taught photography for
many years and amassed a large camera collection
(anybody interested?).
He taught everything science- all
biology and chemistry classes. He taught marine
biology for many years and many a summer vacation
was spent in the not so luxurious dorm house in
Pigeon Key, Florida.
He was a fountain of knowledge and
those who knew him well would simply say
"1-800-ask-Dave" when asked a question they did not
know the answer to. David took a few early computer
courses and built his own home computer from a kit.
The kids were lucky enough to have access to video
games at home BEFORE there was ATARI or home gaming
systems when floppy disks were 8 inches wide.
Dave was a "Lifer" in Boy Scouts and
later was a Troop Leader with his wife Barb as Den
Mother for many years. He was also an archery
instructor for 4 H for many years.
David continued to learn throughout
his career and retirement, going on many fellowships
and special invitation (accomplished science geek)
trips through the American Chemistry Association and
local LOESS geological society. He loved rocks,
fossils and paleontology as evidenced by his vehicle
license plates T REX and PALEE 8. Dave was even
present at the dig in Alberta Canada where they
discovered Sue the T Rex. He also rappelled down bat
caves and crawled through caverns looking for guano
samples. One trip took him to a live volcano in
Hawaii where his curiosity led him to melt the
bottom of his shoes.
Dave and Barb took their children on
many family vacations and continued to travel
frequently before and after retirement to Germany,
Italy, Panama, all Caribbean islands, Mexico and the
Dominican Republic.
David loved all things plant, animal, or mineral- a
frequent family vacation car game.
He would have been equally as happy
being a veterinarian as a science teacher. He loved
his pets and it showed in their longevity. There is
even a 22 year old (at least) black African frog who
is blind and must be hand fed worms up for adoption
as his habitat, the greenhouse, is being dismantled.
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Dave loved gardening and was a Master
Gardener for many years, planting and tending the
Jaycee and Scully parks and fairground flower beds.
Dave had an extensive home flower garden, fruit
trees, vegetable garden, grape arbor, blueberry and
raspberry bushes. Each year he would donate tons of
produce to the Logan County Food Pantry and Habitat
for Humanity.
After retirement David volunteered
and was a docent for the Illinois State Museum in
Springfield. David used his skills to put the entire
catalog of exhibit specimens on computer and was the
recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award.
Dave was a very special man, very
kind, very giving and would strike up a conversation
with anybody about anything. Always the talker,
teaching suited him well. It was nearly impossible
to find a local nurse who had not had a class from
Professor Schroder, who described him as tough but
fair.
David had high standards for himself
and those around him. He will be remembered as a man
who was so very kind and loved and expressed himself
through his actions.
David was a loyal husband, father and
friend who did not take kindly to unfairness but
never made an enemy.
His children have many fond memories
of dad-time going kayaking, fishing, on nature walks
in forests learning about science and nature,
hanging out in the science labs at LC, and
definitely the numerous family vacations.
David's ashes will be buried next to
his mother and father at the family farm in Odell
Illinois.
David leaves behind his wife Barbara
McLaughlin Schroder of Lincoln, son Andrew Schroder
and wife Candace Wauhop of Champaign, daughter
Jennifer DiPasquale and partner Bobby Champion,
grandchildren Anthony William and Joseph David
DiPasquale and their father Steve DiPasquale of
Lincoln. Also surviving are: brother Tom and wife
Lisa Bayer of Ave Maria, Florida, their children
Anna Burky, Marie Barker and Jacob Schroder; brother
Paul and wife Sue Whitmer of Odell, their children
Jeff and Mark; sister in law Marcia McLaughlin of
Durango Co., brother in law Mark McLaughlin and wife
Marcia of Rock Island, brother in law Joe McLaughlin
of Silvis; sister in law Jean McLaughlin of La
Jolla, Ca. and many nieces, nephews and their
children.
There will be no funeral services, however a
celebration of life will be scheduled in the near
future.
Memorials may be made in
David’s name to the Logan County Animal Control.
Cremation rites have been entrusted
to Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln.
Click here to send a note of condolence to the
family of David Wary Schroder
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