John Henry Schroeder

He was a loving, humble and generous husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He served as an inspiration to many with whom he worked.

John was born September 26, 1920, in Evansville, the son of J. Henry and Clara Schroeder. He graduated from Bosse High School in 1938 and Wabash College in 1942, Phi Beta Kappa. He received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School with distinction in 1948.

John served in the United States Army for four years during World War II in Great Britain and was discharged with the rank of Captain.

John was a pioneer in the plastics industry. He was instrumental in its rapid growth, starting one of the first plastic extrusion companies in the U.S., Crescent Plastics, Inc. located in Evansville. From this business followed the Evansville-based companies Cresline Plastic Pipe Co., Inc., Wabash Plastics, Inc., Cresline-West, Inc, and Cresline –Northwest, LLC, in which he served as chairman.

John H. had long reaching community service. He served as President of many boards, including United Way of Southwestern Indiana, Vanderburgh County Tuberculosis Association, Vanderburgh County Society for Crippled Children and Adults, Goodwill Industries and the Rotary Club. He also served on the boards of the Evansville Chamber of Commerce, Evansville Museum of Arts and Sciences, Welborn Baptist Hospital, Old National Bancorp, Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Co., and the Society of Plastics Industry. Governor Robert Orr named him to the Indiana Secondary Market for Educational Loans.

He also served on the Board of Trustees of the University of Evansville, three years as Chairman, and the Wabash College Board of Trustees. He was awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Wabash College and the University of Evansville.

John H. Schroeder also received numerous honorary awards including The Distinguished Citizens Award from the Buffalo Trace Council, the Rotary Club of Evansville Paul Harris Fellow Award, the Rotary Civic Award, the Wabash College Outstanding Alumni of Merit Award, and from the University of Evansville the Delta Sigma Pi Fraternity Businessman of the Year Award and the University Medal of Honor. He was also a member of the Indiana Academy. John H. and Ginny Schroeder received the Governor’s Arts Award for continuing support of the Arts in Indiana. He and Ginny were also recognized by the Evansville Philharmonic, the Evansville Arts Council and the Evansville YWCA.

The Easter Seals awarded John H. the National Edgar Allen Founders Society Award. He was elected to the Evansville Business Hall of Fame, recognizing his many years of service to not only these organizations which he supported in the Evansville area, but also his leadership in his family of companies.

The University of Evansville acknowledged his support by naming first a dormitory after John H. and later naming their business school the Schroeder Family School of Business.

Wabash College named its career center after John H. in recognition of his support for his alma mater. Recently Wabash established the John H. Schroeder Chair in Economics, his major at Wabash.

The Evansville Museum of Arts and Sciences also recognized his support, as well as the support of his wife, Ginny. Among the many projects was the gallery, named the Crescent Gallery in recognitions of his contributions.

Just this past year John H. was awarded membership in the inaugural class of the EVSC Foundation Hall of Fame which recognizes distinguished graduates of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation.

John H. was a member of Eastminister Presbyterian Church. He served as an Elder and Trustee of Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church prior to its merger with Eastminister.

He was also a member of the Evansville Country Club and Evansville Kennel Club.

His first wife, Jeanne Crisp Schroeder, passed away in 1982.

He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Virginia Graves Schroeder, and two sons, John C. Schroeder (Diane) of Evansville and Richard A. Schroeder (Patrice) of Newburgh, and his sister, Ruth Bromm of Evansville.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Scott Schroeder (Leigh) of Newburgh, Susan Fuller (Joel) of Washington, D.C., Maribeth Schroeder of Philadelphia, and Lindsey and David Schroeder of Newburgh. He is also survived by great-granddaughters, Lucy and Ellie Schroeder, and great-grandson, Jonah Fuller.

John H. is also survived by his stepchildren, Robert Graves (Lindsay) of Columbus, OH, Catherine Turner, of Richmond, IN, Sarah Cobb (Pete) of Montgomery, AL, Melissa Mattingly (Randy) of Henderson, KY, and grandchildren, John Graves (Amy), Sarah Graves, Drew Sullivan, Hoke Sullivan, Erin Mattingly, and William Mattingly.

Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 8, 2011, at the University of Evansville Neu Chapel, officiated by Dr. Dennis Davenport, with entombment in Oak Hill Cemetery. Friends may visit Thursday from 3:00 to 7:00 pm at Alexander East Chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made to the University of Evansville, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, In, 47714; Wabash College, PO Box 352, Crawfordsville, In, 47933; Evansville Philharmonic, PO Box 84, Evansville, IN 47701; Evansville Museum, 411 SE Riverside Drive, Evansville, In 47713; or Evansville Rehabilitation Center, 3701 Bellemeade Avenue, Evansville, In 47714.