Esther Schroeder

Esther Luana Schroeder died Sunday, December 13, 2015. She was born August 19, 1922, to Isaac D. and Anna (Ediger) Klaassen in rural Hillsboro. She attended the Hillsboro public school and Tabor College one year to earn the 30 hr. teaching certificate and taught in a one-room country school during World War II. It was then that she met Irvin J. Schroeder whom she married May 15, 1945, and rescued her from the teaching profession to become a farm wife. She grew up in a sheltered Christian farm home and going to church every week. Tabor College sponsored one or two weeks of evangelistic meetings every winter. It was during these meetings she became aware of her lost condition and a year later at age 13 she accepted Christ as her Savior. She was baptized in a creek in 1936 and became a member of the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. When she was in her upper twenties she went through a time of doubting her salvation. It was through a sermon by Pastor J.J. Toews using John 5:24 that gave her the assurance she needed. She always enjoyed the home Bible studies encouraged by Helen Adrian, that led her to have them in the farming community for 25 years. Irvin was handy as a baby sitter for children who came along with their mothers. Before marriage she worked candling eggs several months which paid for her one year’s college education. Later she worked in the creamery wrapping butter. During the war German Nazi prisoners were brought in from Peabody’s prison camp to help with the heavy work. Two men, Hans and Fritz, helped with the six butter wrapping girls. They had some very interesting conversations with them since the Mennonites could speak German. Irvin and Esther were blessed with three daughters who were the big helpers on the farm. Church life with involvement in many areas was very important in their lives. Irvin and Esther moved into Buhler in 1986. In July 2011, they moved into Buhler’s Sunshine Home Assisted Living to enjoy the security it provided in their advancing age. Survivors include: her husband, Irvin; three daughters: Connie (Elmer) Cook of Grove, OK, Lynett Wheeler of Cleveland, MO, Ruth (Tim) Quiring of Sylva, NC; six grandchildren: Doug (DeAnna) Lietzke, Mark (Stephanie) Lietzke, Amanda Wheeler, Asa Wheeler, Jesse (Katie) Quiring, Tracie (Rob) Krenek; six great-grandchildren: Ryan, Janson and Jaden Lietzke, Noah and Lizzie Quiring and Damon Krenek; one brother, Harold (Esther) Klaassen of Leonardville, KS; one brother-in-law, Wilber Regier of Buhler, KS; two sisters-in-law, Wilhelmina Klaassen of Denver, CO, and Nina Klassen of Roseburg, OR. She was preceded in death by her sister, Lydia Regier, brothers Albert, John and Art, and son-in-law, Fredric Wheeler. Memorial service will be at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 7, 2016 at the Buhler Sunshine Home Chapel. Buhler Mortuary are in charge of arrangements.

Esther Schroeder

August 19, 1922 - December 13, 2015