Leland Roy Schroeder went home to be with Jesus on Friday June 28, 2024.

Leland was born in Caledonia, MN on June 26, 1938, to Albert and Luella (Busitsky) Schroeder.

He graduated from Logan High School in La Crosse, WI. On September 10, 1960, he married the love of his life Kathy Ewers at the Western Springs Congregational Church in Illinois. Leo earned an AB degree at Ripon College in 1960. He received an MS and PhD from the Institute of Paper Chemistry in 1962 and 1965. He was called into the US Army from 1965-67 and served in the reserve for 8 years, receiving the National Defense Service Medal. Leo began teaching at age 19 in college and then became a professor in Appleton WI at the Institute of Paper Chemistry where he taught for 19 years and graduated 30 PhDs. While Leo and Kathy lived in Appleton, they helped found Agape of Appleton Inc., assisting people with disabilities. In 1986, Leo became chairman of Paper Science and Engineering at SUNY college of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse NY, and editor of a paper journal. He retired as Professor Emeritus in 2010.
For 30 years he and Kathy shared summers in Springbrook WI, where he loved being on the lake with family, bonfires, and sitting out on the deck watching sunsets. He loved going out to eat, driving on backroads, watching SU Basketball and the Bucks, and playing Shanghai (especially if he was winning). But above all he loved his family and was so proud of his grandchildren.

Leo is survived by his wife of 63 years, Kathy Schroeder; his children, Todd (Martha) Schroeder, and Sharon (Mark) Brum; his daughters-in-law, Antonia Schroeder, and Kris Sagneri; his seven grandchildren, Misty, Alan, Michael, Nicole, Adam, Scott, and Autumn; and his two great-grandchildren, Evelyn and Owen.

Leo is preceded in death by his parents; his sons, Michael Schroeder, and Scott Schroeder; and his siblings, Juanita Kohlmeyer, Delores Newburg, and Kermit Schroeder.

A service will be held at noon at Grace Lutheran in Hayward on July 7th. A celebration of his life will be held in NY in the fall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Jude’s Children Hospital.

Last Update: Jul 02, 2024 11:32 am CDT