John Wayne Schroeder

John Wayne Schroeder, 62, of Atwater, died Wednesday, August 14th at St. Cloud Hospital. His memorial service will be 11:00 am, Monday, August 19th at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Willmar. Visitation will be from 3-6:00 pm, Sunday at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar and continue one hour prior to his service at the church. Burial will be in St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Atwater. Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers. www.hafh.org

John Wayne Schroeder was born on August 1, 1957, to Wayne and LeeAnn (Heining) Schroeder in Willmar. He grew up on the family farm south of Atwater where he started farming with his parents and brothers at a young age. John attended country school at St. John Lutheran and graduated from Atwater High school in 1975, where he received the nickname “Farmer” from his classmates. John and his two children: Michael “Mikey” and Stephanie “Bertie” became a family when John was united in marriage to Lori Strege on October 3, 1981 at Redeemer Lutheran Church. John’s dad passed away in 1979 and Bill Houselog became his step-father in 1983. In 1982, John and Lori moved to the farm where John continued to milk cows and farm the land. Over the years he worked for many area farmers. John started J & L Express hauling feed, while also raising beef cattle for family and friends where there was always a wait list for that Schroeder beef. John loved spending time with his wife, children, family and friends. He enjoyed hunting, especially deer, and going on snowmobile trips to Yellowstone. Many times, Lori caught him watching westerns, it didn't matter how old they were just as long as they didn't sing. However, if they did sing, he'd just stop it for a while or fast forward through it. John could always find a nickname for friends and also for his nieces and nephews like Spike, Justmiester, Lil Girl, Dolly, Buck and Louie. Every night John would go on a Ranger ride with his border collie, Toby, who was a cattle dog in training. He was a loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend.

John is survived by his wife, Lori of Atwater; children: Michael Schroeder of Bemidji and Stephanie (Justin Gronseth) Schroeder of Willmar; brothers: Steven Schroeder and Rodney (Denise) Schroeder both of Atwater and parents, Bill and LeeAnn Houselog of Grove City; and other extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Wayne, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Charles and Judy Strege, and nephews, Ryan Strege and Brock Schroeder.    

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