Darlene Ann Schroeder
LAUREL — Darlene Ann Schroeder, age 95, of Laurel, died Dec. 24, 2020, at Hillcrest Care Center, Laurel.
Private family services were Dec. 28 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Laurel, with Rev. Jeffery Warner officiating.
Burial was in the Laurel Cemetery.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Laurel. The funeral was also live streamed on Darlene’s obituary page at www.wintzfuneralhome.com and on our YouTube channel, Wintz Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were all of her grandsons, and honorary pallbearers are all of her granddaughters.
Darlene was born to Henry and Edna (Clausen) Wacker, at Laurel, Dec. 8, 1925. She was baptized and confirmed in her faith at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Laurel, where she was a lifetime member. Darlene attended country school and graduated from Laurel High School in 1943. She attended the teachers college in Wayne and then taught for several years in country school in the Laurel area. She married Clayton Schroeder, Concord, Nov. 22, 1946. They farmed in the Concord/Laurel area while raising their seven children. In 1996, they retired and moved into Laurel. Darlene was an active volunteer in many church and community organizations. She and Clayton were always at the events of their children and then their 30 grandchildren, of whom they were so proud. It was known that a note would be on the table telling whoever stopped by where they were. Darlene had been a resident at Hillcrest Care Center, Laurel, since 2014.
Darlene is survived by her seven children, Connie (David) Schutte, Laurel; John (Sally) Schroeder, Yankton, S.D.; Jerry (Diane) Schroeder, Laurel; James (Susie) Schroeder, Laurel; George (Kris) Schroeder, Belden; Susan (Jerry) Richards, Omaha; and Lisa (Randy) Papenhausen, Coleridge; 30 grandchildren, Julie (Tim) Schmidt, John (Stacie) Schutte, Kyle (Stephanie) Schutte, Lana (Jake) Bartos, Ben (Erin) Schroeder, Clayton (Kelly) Schroeder, Holly (Paul) Wintz, Leslie (Justin) Noehren, Seth (Lauren) Schroeder, Shelby (Colin) Churchill, Holli (Bennie) Surber, Jennifer Schroeder, Kari (Michael) Patefield, Lukas (Abbey) Schroeder, Timothy (Jenan) Schroeder, Mindee (Nick) Schleppenbach, Adam Schroeder, Rebecca (Jason) Carr, Laurie (Matt) Price, Matthew (Melyssa) Schroeder, Emily (Dustin) Jones, Christina (Troy) Nelson, Nathan (Emily) Richards, Spencer Richards, Alec (Laura) Richards, McCaffrey Richards, Kendra (John) Meuret, Rachel (Nick) Hanson, Lindsay (Ryan) Schmuecker, Marcus (Mandy) Papenhausen; and 62 great grandchildren.
Darlene was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clayton, Aug. 20, 2014, at the age of 88; two brothers, Kenneth (Susy) Wacker and Darryl (Ruth) Wacker; brother-in-law, Cleo (Virginia) Schroeder; and sister-in-law, Bonnie (Sydney) Haakenstad.