Paul Schroeder

Paul Schroeder†”husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend†”will be missed by all who knew him. On Monday, February 15, 2021 a virtual meeting was set up to honor Paul for his military service on the following Saturday. On Tuesday, Paul had his first of several small strokes over the next few days. He became bedridden. On Saturday morning, his three children and their spouses, his thirteen grandchildren and spouses, nearly all of his eighteen great-grandchildren, his nephew, and a family friend were in attendance online. By God†™s grace and goodness, Paul was awake during the beautiful ceremony. He had his eyes open the entire time, and he blinked and smiled to acknowledge he heard all the words spoken. Afterwards, many in attendance shared memories, told of his character, and expressed their appreciation for his love and patriotism. No one foresaw that a mere ten to fifteen minutes after the virtual meeting Paul would breathe his last breath on earth Saturday, February 20 at 11:50 am and be received into heaven. God granted that final hour of his life for all in attendance to be together. Paul Schroeder was born in Suckwitz, Germany on January 27, 1932, the sixth of eight children. He grew up and worked on the family farm. WWII began when he was seven and ended when he was thirteen. The end of WWII brought a group of refugees to the small farming community, one of whom would become the love of his life and eventually his bride for 67 years. At the age of eighteen, Paul left Suckwitz to escape being drafted into the Soviet Communist army. He headed to West Germany and became a blacksmith apprentice. Three years later, Paul was ready to travel further west across the ocean to be with his love who had already emigrated to Chicago with her sister. When his plane landed in NY and he stepped onto the tarmac, Paul knew deep in his heart that the United States would be his adopted country for the rest of his life. He also wanted to marry his sweetheart the very next day. An aunt told him he would need to wait for a proper wedding to be planned. Impatiently, he asked how long that would take?! Three months later, on November 28, 1953, Paul and Helga Schroeder began their life†™s journey together. Within six months of living in Chicago, Paul was drafted into the U.S. Army (even before he became a citizen). He proudly served in the infantry and as a paratrooper. Paul would work for over twenty different companies in the next twenty years. He left a company when he was bored, having learned and mastered a new skill or a new machine. He would pick up his toolbox and quit one day and then be hired the next day at another shop. Eventually, Paul ended up in sales, many times selling to the shops he had worked at years before. He was so successful as a sales rep that the upper management decided to restrict his earning power. That was the impetus for Paul to start his own business and also to become their competitor. Again, he was successful for the next ten years before selling the company. Then soon afterwards, Paul and Helga moved further west to Colorado. They settled in their beautiful home in Longmont thirty years ago. Paul and Helga both accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior while in their late teens and before they emigrated to the U.S. They were active in the churches that the family attended in Illinois and Colorado. Paul had been a deacon, a trustee, a Sunday School teacher, Sunday School superintendent, a Boys Brigade leader, on a pastoral search committee and the chairman of a church building program. Paul and Helga regularly shared their faith with family and strangers, wanting others to know how God has provided a way for all to be forgiven for their sins, a way to experience a fulfilling life here on earth, and how to have the hope and assurance of spending eternity in heaven when we die. Paul wanted everyone to know: †œOver the decades, I have consistently seen how God†™s hand has protected and guided me specifically, and also our family not only through historical events, but even in our day-to-day life. I have learned that being faithful to God brings the greatest fulfillment in life. Simply stated, being faithful means to trust wholly in God†™s Word and to obey, oftentimes hard to do, but worth it. And in my faithfulness to God, I feel I†™ve been abundantly blessed.†� Paul is survived by his wife, Helga; by his children, Rose & Tom, Kathy & Evan, Peter & Beth; by his grandchildren (& great-grandchildren), Brian & Junko (Luna, Yuina, Aiki), Craig & Mary (Clara, Melody, Colton), Sheralinn & Morgan (Everleigh, Avannah, Vivia, Joah), Dwight & Bethany, Sharee & Dan (Emma, Jacob, Isaac, Levi), Desiree & Zack (Christopher, Wesley, Truett, Kaylin), Eric & Jessica, Bronson, Brennen, Shirlanna & Andrew, Philip, Natalie, Daniel; by his brother, Otto, and his sister, Helga; by his nephews and nieces he was close to, Manfred & Ingrid, Inge & Hans-Jorg, Roland & Gisela. Thank you to all who have been part of Paul†™s life†”his family appreciates you!