Charles R Schroeder

Charles R. Schroeder, age 70, passed away suddenly April 8, 2011, at St. Vincent Mercy Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on July 5, 1940 in Toledo to Frederick and Elizabeth (Lemke) Schroeder. He married Roberta “Bobbie” (Lowe) on October 1, 1966 and she survives. Chuck graduated from Macomber Vocational High School in 1958. While there he lettered in baseball and basketball and was a starting forward on the 1958 state tournament team that lost to the legendary Jerry Lucas' Middletown team. He attended Toledo University before joining the U.S. Army with his friend, David Baertschi. While in the Army he became a Military Policeman assigned to Fort Belvoir, Virginia. His unit's MP duties also included President Dwight Eisenhower's military security detail, and they would travel with Ike on many golf trips to play Augusta National Golf Club. After his Army duty, Chuck and his friend Dave took civil service exams in Toledo, with David becoming a Toledo Firefighter and Chuck joining the Toledo Police Department on May 15, 1964. Chuck spent most of his career in field operations and the traffic bureau, and his traffic citations became legendary as he wrote upwards of 400 citations per month. It was often said that every resident of Toledo at one point or another was pulled over by Charlie Schroeder, and one time, that included his own wife. He took great pride in his police work and received the TPD Professional Service Award in 1991, and also received many letters to file from citizens and supervisors for work well done. He was chosen to lead Vice President Walter Mondale's motorcade through Toledo during a campaign stop in 1980 (even posing for an official White House photo at the airport), and also served as Sergeant at Arms for Toledo City Council. He retired July 24, 1997 after 33 years of service, wearing badge #2 as the patrolman with the 2nd most years of service in the department. Chuck's best time was saved for his family. His 3 sons recall mornings before school where Dad made breakfast every day because he worried they would be in school hungry. Breakfast always included conversations and Dad's own unique versions of songs, sung out loud while he cooked and while watching to make sure everything was eaten. He often took his sons to school in a Toledo Police car when they needed a ride, which was always a unique thrill. Chuck enjoyed sports, especially Notre Dame football and Detroit Tigers baseball. He took his sons to many Detroit Tigers baseball games and University of Toledo football and basketball games in the 1970s and 1980s. Chuck was very involved in Regina Coeli School and parish over the years, and coached his sons in baseball and basketball. He also served as girls' basketball coach and was a former president of the Regina Coeli Athletic Boosters and worked security many years for the annual parish festival held every August. After his retirement from TPD Chuck became a greeter at the WalMart on Central Avenue, putting his outgoing personality and gift of gab to good use. While there, he made many new friends and was very popular, and would often chat up former coworkers and family members who came to shop. Over the last few years his children would often hear from their friends or coworkers “Hey, I saw your dad over at WalMart the other day. Man, he likes to talk. He's a really great guy.” In recent years Chuck was blessed with many grandchildren, and each dearly loved their “Papa”. He would often babysit them, went to all their dance recitals and athletic events, always insisted on giving gifts for good report cards, and loved being a grandfather. Ask anyone who knew Chuck and they will tell you that conversations with him usually focused on how great his grandchildren were. They will all miss their Papa terribly. Chuck is survived by his wife, Bobbie Schroeder; sons Jeff (Marie) Schroeder, Scott Schroeder, and Todd (Michelle) Schroeder; grandchildren Sophia, Ella, Ava, and Jake Schroeder; Brittany and Justin Langlois, and Ryan and Luke Schroeder. He is also survived by his brother, Frederick Schroeder along with his sisters-in-law Mary Sosko and Nancy (Farouk) Khalaf and brother-in-law Basil Lowe. Many nieces and nephews survive including Doug (Kim) Sosko. He will be missed by countless friends. Chuck was preceded in death by his parents. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. both Tuesday April 12 and Wednesday April 13, 2011 at Ansberg-West Funeral Home, 3000 W. Sylvania Ave, Toledo. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Thursday April 14, 2011 at Regina Coeli Church, 600 Reginia Pkwy, Toledo . Burial will be at Calvary Cemetary. Online condolences may be sent to www.ansberg-west.com Donations are requested to be made in Chuck's name to Sal's Pals, an organization committed to finding a cure for Cystic Fibrosis, 5026 West Sylvania Avenue, Toledo, OH 43623 or www.salspals.com.

Charles R Schroeder

July 5, 1940 - April 8, 2011