C. George Schroer

George, as he was known, was born the youngest of five children to Frank and Anna (Werr) Schroer on September 3, 1926. They lived on “Dutch Hill” and were members of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, where he attended grade school. He later went to Westport High and graduated in 1944. He was an avid Boy Scout, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout before entering the US Navy at the age of 18, serving in both WWII and Korea. In between wars he attended Rockhurst College for two years.

In 1951 he married Theola (Teddy) Waechter. Together they had twelve children, living first in Independence before moving to Kansas City in 1963. They raised all their children to be independent individuals. Their life was blessed with 62 years of marriage until the 2013 passing of Teddy.

Throughout his life George was active in St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church where he and Teddy were founding members. He participated in many charitable endeavors, most notably, serving as Chairman of the Board for Lalmba Association, a Kansas City-based charity, and was very proud to have built an orphanage, school and hospital in Keren, Eritrea, which is now part of Ethiopia. In the 1970’s Lalmba was recognized by the United Nations as the smallest international NGO (Non-Governmental Care Organization).

George worked in manufacturing his entire life. He was the co-owner of Schroer Brothers Machine Works with his brother Frank. In 1980 he started Unitech, where he worked as president until his retirement in 1991.

George remained active in retirement with his church, friends and neighbors. He was a lifelong altar server, from boyhood into his 90’s. He dabbled making homemade wine and kept honey bees, earning the name Mr. Honey. He was also on the board of Pony Express Brewery where he took an active role in maintaining some very picky bottling equipment and served as a taste tester. At the age of 87 he helped build a pergola in his back yard with his son Mark. The pergola became the gathering point for many happy hours with family and friends, enjoying some of the best barbeque in Kansas City, created by his son Dan.

George loved his wife and family and was devoted to his faith and his church, accepting all challenges in life that came his way. He worked to be understanding of all. He lived a full life; one that took him to every continent except Antarctica and Australia. He died peacefully at home surrounded by his children.

He leaves behind five sons and seven daughters: Craig and Cathy (Womack) Schroer of Leawood, Dave and Devri Merello of Lee’s Summit, Valerie Schroer and Michael Brock of Kansas City, Mark Schroer and Phyllis Becker of Kansas City, Michael and Angela (Rodrigues) Schroer of Freemont, Ohio, Cynthia Schroer of Kansas City, Mary Schroer of Lincoln, Nebraska, Duane and Susan Grant of Raytown, David Schroer of Hamburg, Germany, Daniel Schroer of Kansas City, Angela Orengo of Raytown, Monica Schroer of Kansas City, 17 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents and all four of his siblings – Anna Bowman, Mary Hope, Rita Ahearn Ward, and Frank Schroer.

Visitation will be at St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church, 9020 E. 51st Terrace in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday, February 13 between 2 and 4:00 with a rosary at 3:30. The funeral mass will be at the church on Monday, February 14 at 10:00 A.M. It will be live-streamed at www.stbernadettekcmo.org.

The family requests no flowers but asks that donations be made in George’s memory to one of three of his favorite charities – Lalmba Association, 1000 Corey St. Longmont, CO 80501, Bishop Sullivan Center in Kansas City, bishopsullivan.org, or Water.org.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.McGilleySheil.com for the Schroer family.