Donald Leslie Schrader

He was the fourth of five children born to Charles Leslie and Lila Edith Schrader and gained a strong work ethic working on the family farm. His family relocated to Atchison, Kansas when Don was 12 years old. He graduated from Atchison High School in 1949, and earned a scholarship to play football at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, where he was one of nine founding members of the Kansas Delta Colony of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He left college to serve his country during the Korean War where he proudly served as Sergeant in the Marine Corps. While serving his three years of duty, he was relocated to Austin, Texas in August, 1952, where he remained for the rest of his life.

Through his roommate, Don met the love of his life, Inez Stiba, and they were married June 25, 1954. Don returned to school attending the University of Texas where he first gained a love for the Texas Longhorns. He and Inez lived in and managed an apartment near campus until fire tore through the building destroying or damaging everything they owned. They later purchased their first home in South Austin where they raised their three sons, Steve, Mike & Wayne. After the boys were grown, Don and Inez moved to a home in the Westlake area where they lived for over 35 years.

Don worked various jobs to support the family including working for Binzwanger Glass, Pittsburgh Paint & Glass and Cooks funeral home. He eventually began a career with the State of Texas Highway and Transportation Department. He traveled the state of Texas as an auditor and retired after more than 33 years of service.

Don served as an usher and volunteer bookkeeper at St. John’s Lutheran Church before transferring to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran in the 1980’s. He enjoyed the Austin outdoors and frequented the hike and bike trails and golf courses on a regular basis. His favorite pastimes were golf, Texas Longhorn football, and spending time with family. He enjoyed playing golf often, was able to correct your swing just by looking at it once, and got a job as a Marshall at local golf courses after his retirement. He served as an usher at UT’s Memorial Stadium for over 20 years and enjoyed cheering on his hometown team. Don and Inez enjoyed keeping all of their grandchildren over the years, helped raise their oldest granddaughter, and relished his time with his 3 youngest grandchildren after his retirement. While Inez stayed home to watch the grandbabies, he delighted in shuttling them to preschool and summer camps, often sticking around to assist the teachers. When he wasn’t attending to the grandchildren, he could often be found mowing, raking leaves or just piddling around in the yard. Inez and Don were also regular mall walkers and made numerous friends at Barton Creek Mall. As his Alzheimer’s disease progressed, he attended support groups such as The Gathering and Mike’s Place where he was often mistaken for a volunteer because of his caring and helpful nature.

Don was preceded in death by both his parents and all four of his siblings. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 62 years Inez Stiba Schrader of Austin, Texas; sons, Steve Schrader of Lago Vista, Texas, Mike Schrader of Lago Vista, Texas and Wayne Schrader and wife Debra of Austin, Texas; grandchildren Michael Schrader, Jr., of Kyle, Texas, Stephanie Schrader of Vancouver, Washington, Ryan Schrader of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Clayton Schrader of Thousand Oaks, California and Christy Schrader of Austin, Texas; great grandchildren Kimarie Schrader of Chaffee, Missouri, Lily Clark of Belton, Texas, Wesley Sagmiller of Vancouver, Washington, and Scarlett Schrader of Kyle, Texas.

The family would like to thank the staff at Silverado Memory Care Community of Bee Caves, Texas for the love and dignity they showed Don over the last year.

Funeral services will be held at Noon on Friday, October 7, 2016, at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 3525 Bee Caves Road, Austin, Texas. Visitation will be just prior to the funeral from 11:00 am until 12:00 pm, in the same chapel. A reception will be held following the funeral in the fellowship hall. Graveside services will be at 3:00 pm, at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks, 6300 West William Cannon Drive, Austin, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.