Schroeder, Dorothy Gertrude

Born January 8, 1927, in Uniontown, Missouri, died Dec. 17th, 2020 in St. Louis, after a short illness.
Dorothy was the second child of Dr. William and Renata Kramer and was baptized at Grace Lutheran Church in Uniontown. The family moved to Strasburg, Illinois when Dorothy was a one-year-old. There her father worked at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School, where Dorothy attended school, graduated from eighth grade and was confirmed.
In the summer of 1940, the family moved to St. Louis where Dorothy attended and graduated from Roosevelt High School. She worked part-time during high school at Concordia Publishing House (CPH) and after graduation became a secretary there. She continued her work at CPH for approximately 15 years, until she married Richard Schroeder of Peoria, Illinois on February 13, 1960.
After one year in Peoria, the couple moved to St. Louis where they remained for the rest of their lives. In the ensuing years, the pair was blessed with two girls, Julie and Carla. Dorothy spent her years raising her daughters and caring for others in her community and her family.
Dorothy and Richard were members of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Christ Memorial Lutheran Church and finally Peace Lutheran Church, where they remained members until their deaths.
Through the years, Dorothy was faithful in her service to the church. She taught Sunday School for 26 years, sang in the choir, and was a member of the ladies’ group. She also volunteered at the Lutheran Community Center and drove cancer patients to appointments. She truly had a servant’s heart, especially when it came to her family. For many years, she took care of her parents as they aged, cooking meals, helping with housecleaning and driving them to various appointments. She was always willing to feed and host extended family members when they came to visit her parents.
In addition, she helped care for her grandchildren, Ryan and Amber, after they were born, and became their full-time parent when their mother, Carla, passed away in 2009.
She is predeceased by her husband of 55 years, Richard; daughter, Carla Brewster; sister-in-law, Valerie Kramer; and brothers-in-law, Dale Behmer and Fred Schroeder. She is survived by her daughter, Julie Schroeder, of Independence, Missouri; older brother, Howard Kramer of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; younger sister, Arlene Behmer of Little Rock, Arkansas; her two grandchildren, Ryan Matheny and Amber Haskell (Story); son-in-law, Ron Brewster; step-grandson Chris Brewster, all of St. Louis; sister-in-law, Marilyn Schroeder of Quincy, Illinois; three great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Dorothy will be buried with her husband at Jefferson Barracks Military Cemetery and a memorial service will be held in the spring. Kutis Funeral Home is responsible for arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Peace Lutheran Church, 737 Barracksview Road, St. Louis, MO 63125.