- Born on: July 17, 1940
- Departed on: May 8, 2026
- Resided in: Bettendorf, IA
Robert Henry Schroeder
Robert Henry Schroeder, 85, of Bettendorf, IA, formerly of Cedar Falls, IA, passed away at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House on Friday, May 8, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.
A Celebration of Life will be held following a short public Masonic Funeral Service at 6:00pm at 216 ½ Main St., Cedar Falls, IA, on Friday, May 15th.
Robert was born to Clarence and Laura (Annuschat) Schroeder on Monday, July 17, 1940, in El Reno, OK. Raised on a farm in Oklahoma at the end of the Dust Bowl, Robert was a hard worker from an early age. After moving to town, he graduated from Kingfisher High School, Class of 1958. He immediately joined the US Marine Corps and served from 1958 to 1962. Upon returning home, he met the love of his life, Marsha Walker, and on their third date, he told her he’d marry her someday. She didn’t believe him at the time, but they were married on June 13, 1965, after a year-long, long distance engagement. Robert and Marsha moved to Waterloo, IA, where Robert had been working at the John Deere Waterloo Works. Though he promised Marsha they would only live in Iowa for a few years (a promise that later became the subject of many jokes), Robert proudly retired from John Deere Engine Works as a Forensic Engine Inspector, after a 44 ½ year-long career.
Robert, who was known as Bob to most people, was a dedicated and faithful man. He was an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls, IA for many years, and even served as Head Usher for 12 years, several terms on the church council, and one term as church council President. Robert was an active Freemason; he earned a 50-year member distinction from Martin Lodge #624 AF & AM, where he served as Worshipful Master. In fact, Robert served as a leader at local, state, and national levels for many groups: Excellent High Priest of Tabernacle Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, Illustrious Master of Crescent Council #16 of Royal and Select Masters, Eminent Commander of Ascalon Commandry #25 of Knights Templar, Deputy Master of Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Iowa, President of the Waterloo Temple board, Worthy Patron of Becker Chapter #499, Order of Eastern Star, and Royal Patron of Cedar Court #8, Grand Royal Patron of Grand Court of Iowa, and Deputy Supreme Royal Patron of the Supreme Council, Order of the Amaranth. He also proudly served as District Dad and was a beloved Rainbow Dad for his daughters and many others in the International Order of Rainbow for Girls.
Beyond his accomplishments that can be written on paper, Robert achieved great things with his heart. He appreciated hard work and loved to celebrate the successes of his loved ones. Robert had a healthy sense of humor; he had brown eyes, after all (IYKYK). He could take a joke just as easily as he could dish it out. Above all else, however, he was a family man. He broke familial cycles so that he and Marsha could raise their children in a loving and supportive home. Whenever he was asked what he wanted for Christmas or his birthday, his only response was, “A good meal with my family.” He found great joy in having his family and friends together around him, safe and warm and well-fed. And though Robert was never a good cook (he was much better at baking those bundt cakes and brownies than meatloaf), we will forever miss his words of wisdom, silly antics, belly laughs, and warm hugs.
Those left to cherish Robert’s memory are his wife, Marsha, of Bettendorf, IA; his children: Steven Schroeder, of Anaheim, CA, Sara Bockenstedt, of Manchester, IA, and Laura (Chris Burrows) Schroeder, of Davenport, IA; his bonus daughters: Lorri McCall, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, Emilie (John) Bostwick, of Cedar Falls, IA; his grandchildren: Jessamine McLarty-Schroeder, Esther Bockenstedt, Conlan McLarty-Schroeder, Hattie Burrows, Noah Mergen, Sully Burrows, and Eli Mergen; and his sister, Donna Biggs of Yukon, OK. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son-in-law, Bruce Bockenstedt.
Instead of flowers, please send your memories of Robert. Robert’s family would like to create a book filled with all manners of stories of him, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly!
A Celebration of Life will be held following a short public Masonic Funeral Service at 6:00pm at 216 ½ Main St., Cedar Falls, IA, on Friday, May 15th.
Robert was born to Clarence and Laura (Annuschat) Schroeder on Monday, July 17, 1940, in El Reno, OK. Raised on a farm in Oklahoma at the end of the Dust Bowl, Robert was a hard worker from an early age. After moving to town, he graduated from Kingfisher High School, Class of 1958. He immediately joined the US Marine Corps and served from 1958 to 1962. Upon returning home, he met the love of his life, Marsha Walker, and on their third date, he told her he’d marry her someday. She didn’t believe him at the time, but they were married on June 13, 1965, after a year-long, long distance engagement. Robert and Marsha moved to Waterloo, IA, where Robert had been working at the John Deere Waterloo Works. Though he promised Marsha they would only live in Iowa for a few years (a promise that later became the subject of many jokes), Robert proudly retired from John Deere Engine Works as a Forensic Engine Inspector, after a 44 ½ year-long career.
Robert, who was known as Bob to most people, was a dedicated and faithful man. He was an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls, IA for many years, and even served as Head Usher for 12 years, several terms on the church council, and one term as church council President. Robert was an active Freemason; he earned a 50-year member distinction from Martin Lodge #624 AF & AM, where he served as Worshipful Master. In fact, Robert served as a leader at local, state, and national levels for many groups: Excellent High Priest of Tabernacle Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, Illustrious Master of Crescent Council #16 of Royal and Select Masters, Eminent Commander of Ascalon Commandry #25 of Knights Templar, Deputy Master of Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Iowa, President of the Waterloo Temple board, Worthy Patron of Becker Chapter #499, Order of Eastern Star, and Royal Patron of Cedar Court #8, Grand Royal Patron of Grand Court of Iowa, and Deputy Supreme Royal Patron of the Supreme Council, Order of the Amaranth. He also proudly served as District Dad and was a beloved Rainbow Dad for his daughters and many others in the International Order of Rainbow for Girls.
Beyond his accomplishments that can be written on paper, Robert achieved great things with his heart. He appreciated hard work and loved to celebrate the successes of his loved ones. Robert had a healthy sense of humor; he had brown eyes, after all (IYKYK). He could take a joke just as easily as he could dish it out. Above all else, however, he was a family man. He broke familial cycles so that he and Marsha could raise their children in a loving and supportive home. Whenever he was asked what he wanted for Christmas or his birthday, his only response was, “A good meal with my family.” He found great joy in having his family and friends together around him, safe and warm and well-fed. And though Robert was never a good cook (he was much better at baking those bundt cakes and brownies than meatloaf), we will forever miss his words of wisdom, silly antics, belly laughs, and warm hugs.
Those left to cherish Robert’s memory are his wife, Marsha, of Bettendorf, IA; his children: Steven Schroeder, of Anaheim, CA, Sara Bockenstedt, of Manchester, IA, and Laura (Chris Burrows) Schroeder, of Davenport, IA; his bonus daughters: Lorri McCall, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, Emilie (John) Bostwick, of Cedar Falls, IA; his grandchildren: Jessamine McLarty-Schroeder, Esther Bockenstedt, Conlan McLarty-Schroeder, Hattie Burrows, Noah Mergen, Sully Burrows, and Eli Mergen; and his sister, Donna Biggs of Yukon, OK. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son-in-law, Bruce Bockenstedt.
Instead of flowers, please send your memories of Robert. Robert’s family would like to create a book filled with all manners of stories of him, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly!
