Obituary of Gordon Schroeder

Updated

Gordon H. Schroeder of Lafayette Hill died on July 14, 2015 at age 94. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Born February 28, 1921, he never lacked for food or clothing because his dad worked for the Post Office and had a steady income. From ages 11-19, he held a paper route, delivering one hundred-thirty papers daily to neighbors in Elm Grove, Wisconsin on his bicycle.

Gordon served 3 ½ years in the US Navy, serving as a motor machinist on sub chaser USS SC 541 in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic and at a shore station on Corregidor Island. In Manila Bay he was on the minesweeper USS YMS 196. He later enrolled in officer''s training through the Navy''s V12 program at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

After the war he married Joyce Honeyager in 1946, continuing his education at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, graduating as a mechanical engineer. He worked in Milwaukee as a sales engineer for the Eaton Corporation, and was promoted in 1954 to the Philadelphia area managing Eaton''s electronic division, covering New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and eastern Pennsylvania, retiring in 1983.

After retirement, Gordon became an active swimmer and biker, winning many medals at the Pennsylvania Senior Games. He participated in the first National Senior Games in St. Louis, Missouri in 1987. He also played piano, often entertaining residents of various local nursing homes.

Gordon was an active Legionnaire for 67 years at Post 10 in Fort Washington, and held leadership positions in the 9th district of the Pennsylvania Department and as anti-subversive chairman. He was a mason of Fritz Lodge No. 308 in Conshohocken for 45 years.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Joyce (Honeyager) to whom he was married for 68 years, by daughters Joanne Penn of Flourtown, Barbara Oelschlegel of Mt. Airy, and son James Schroeder of Lafayette Hill. He is also survived by two sons in law, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

He was interred at George Washington Memorial Park on Thursday, July 16 with full military honors.

Contributions can be made to a charity of your choice which serves handicapped children.