Beverly Ann Schroeder, 78, passed away on February 20, 2019 in Stockton CA. She fought a courageous battle with cancer, twice, but succumbed to both Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and Primary Peritoneal Cancer, that eventually took her to be with her Lord and Savior.
Beverly was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on April 5, 1940 to Hugo and Mary Lena (McClintock) Bender. She was the third daughter of four girls who all were close and involved in their church, Grace Lutheran. Beverly had a wonderful childhood and would spend summers camping and picnicking at “The Lake”. She graduated from South Side High school and attended some college to prepare for her work as a medical histologic technician. She worked at Lutheran Hospital in Ft. Wayne.
In the summer of 1960, she met the love of her life, David W. Schroeder. They met while David was in Senior College, studying to be a Lutheran minister. They were married on August 26, 1962. In 1964, they welcomed their first daughter, Gloria Jean and were living in Aurora, Illinois at the time. In 1966, their second daughter, Gretchen Sue was born in Ontario, Oregon, while the Schroeders were serving a congregation in New Plymouth, Idaho. In 1967, Gwendolyn Jo was born in Albany, Oregon, while they were serving Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Gwen completed their family with a “trio” of girls, as their father would remark.
In 1973, Beverly went back to work full-time at Albany General Hospital. She would continue her career there until after their move to California in 1980. In Fresno she worked at Valley Medical Center and later, working part-time in Stockton and Concord, CA.
Bev was one of the most remarkable and strong women this world has ever known. She was the Pastor’s wife, the loving wife to David and a model of a mother to her daughters. Later in life, she would take on her favorite role of “Nana” to her grandchildren: Madison Merlot and Makenna Rae Christiansen, Katie Jo and Emily Schroeder Smith, and Sydney Marissa, Kelsey Tatum and Carter William Stout, Sean Paul Connolly, Tyler James and Sarah Diane Zion. When Madison married Daniel Van Der Kooi, she loved being “Nana Bev” to her 3 great grandsons, Harlan Jay, Hayes Daniel and Brooks Wayne Van Der Kooi.
Bev had a gift for gardening and was at her happiest when she was out watering her colorful flowers. She was kind, caring and relished any time spent with her grandchildren. Whether baking cookies, doing crafts or just spending time with and keeping up on every activity in their lives. She and David were married for 56+ wonderful years. David and Beverly would go on to serve Our Saviors’ Lutheran Church in Fresno, CA; United Lutheran in Manteca, CA and various interim churches, finally enjoying their time as members of Zion Lutheran Church in Stockton, CA.
Beverly was preceded in death by her father, Hugo, her mother, Mary, her baby brother, Jerome, and her sister, Delores Priest. She is survived by her husband, David, her daughters and their husbands, Tom Smith (Gretchen), Martin Connolly (Gwen) and Jim Zion (Gloria), her sisters, Marilyn Hilgeman and Carolyn Longi, her faithful dog, Molly, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends from the many congregations they were blessed to be a part of. She will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by many, but we trust and know Heaven is a bit brighter with her beautiful soul there.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at 10:30am at Zion Lutheran Church 808 Porter Ave., Stockton, CA 95027
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18