Rev. Herman Gustav "Gus" Schroeder, 84
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Rev. Herman Gustav "Gus" Schroeder, 84, of Vienna, IL, died January 6, 2009.
The son of Mr. & Mrs. Albertus Schroeder, he was born August 16, 1924 in Washington, DC.
He married Frances Lee (Whiteside) Schroeder, and was a faithful and loving husband for over 57 years. He was also a wonderful father and grandfather.
Mr. Schroeder graduated high school from Central High School in Washington DC and served his country in the army during World War II as a member of the 275th Armored Artillery. Then went on to earn his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Sociology as well as a Master's of Divinity. He was retired from the IL Correctional Facilities and from the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches. He served the Lord faithfully for over 45 years pastoring churches, pulpit supply, leading prison prayer groups as a part of Prison Fellowship, participating in Presbytery meetings and local ministerial associations. He attended the Taylor United Methodist Church. He also wrote "Still Waters" for many papers, including the Vienna Times. He took an active roll in trying to improve communities in which he resided. He was very active in the Ministerial Alliance of Vienna and Johnson County. He helped establish the Hospitality House, a place where the families of prison inmates can stay while visiting loved ones. He was also very instrumental in establishing the 911 system in Johnson County. Mr. Schroeder has enriched the life of everyone who met him and he will be greatly missed by one and all. He would want it know that he had prepared and was ready to meet his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and he would hope that each of you are ready to meet Him also.
Survivors include his wife of Vienna, IL; two brothers-Bert and Helen Schroeder of Novato, CA and Bob and Opal Schroeder of Tuscan, AZ; two daughters-Suzanne and Terry Neff of Red Bud, IL and Mary Lyn and Mark Garwood of Afton, VA; one son, Herman Gustav Schroeder Jr. of Memphis, TN; seven grandchildren-Dacia Burks, Danielle and Jeff Byars, Ginger Barriger, Nicholas Schroeder, Frances Garwood, and Christopher Garwood; as well as six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Friday, January 9, 2009 at the Bailey Funeral Home, Vienna, IL with Rev. Lynn Butler officiating. Burial was in the Casey Springs Cemetery near Vienna.
The family requests that memorials be sent to Casey Springs Church and Cemetery c/o Judy Huckleberry, P.O. Box 915, Pond Road, Vienna, IL 62995.
To leave an online message of condolence for the family, please visit www.baileyfh.com.