Charles Martel Schroeder

Charles Martel Schroeder, 86, of Osage City died on March 4, 2015. Charles was born on a farm near Atwood, Kansas on April 12, 1928. He was one of the eleven children born to Charles F. and Margaret M. Schroeder. He graduated from Atwood High School in 1946, but had to bypass a wrestling scholarship to Colorado State University due to a family emergency. After four years of working on the family farm, he enlisted in the US Navy serving in the Philippines during the Korean War. Four years later he was honorably discharged as an Engineman 2nd class. He attended Creighton University for one year and later graduated from Kansas State University in 1958 with a degree in Feed Technology and a minor in Chemistry. He worked for Cargill Industries in Minneapolis, Minnesota and later in Kansas City. He graduated in 1963 from Pharmacy School at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He then launched a very successful business career. He was a partner in the operating 5 pharmacies across Northeast Kansas. He also owned and operated Schroeder Drugs in Osage City from 1963 until he retired 42 years later in 2005. Charles married Eileen A. Keeney on August 27, 1955. After 58 years of marriage, Eileen preceded him in death on March 19, 2014. He is survived by their seven children: Michael (Nancy; preceded in death) Osage City, KS, Patrick (Ann) Topeka, KS, Mark (Caroline) Greenwich, CT, Kellie Meyer (Dennis) Bern, KS, Jon (Melissa) Silver Lake, KS, Renee Curtis, Boston, MA, Kathi Rewerts (Nathan) Topeka, KS. Charles and Eileen had 29 grandchildren who affectionately knew them as Papa and Nana. Charles was always very active in the Osage City Community. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club, Lyons Club, and the Osage City Chamber of Commerce. He was on the USD 420 school board for eight years. He sat on governing boards of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Osage Manor Nursing Home, and Citizen's State Bank in Osage City. In his spare time he enjoyed horseback riding, ranching, ice fishing, hunting, and attending his grandchildren's many activities. He was a boys youth baseball coach, girls softball coach, and K-State sports enthusiast. The visitation will be held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Osage City, KS and will begin with the recitation of the Holy Rosary at 6:00 PM on Sunday, March 8th. Charles' family will be receiving friends and guests immediately following the Rosary Service. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Patrick's Catholic Church at 10 AM on Monday, March 9th. Interment will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Osage City. Memorial contributions can be made to the Charles M. Schroeder Memorial Fund to be designated at a later date. Condolences may be expressed at vanarsdalefs.com.

Service:

10:00 a.m., Monday, March 9, 2015

St. Patrick's Catholic Church Osage City, Kansas