Schroeder, Lorraine Marie (1918-1983)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1983 Feb 24 p. 11

Birth date: 1918 Dec 4

text of obituary:

LORRAINE SCHROEDER

Lorraine Marie Schroeder, Mennonite missionary to India, 1952-75, died of a heart attack Feb. 1, 1983, at her apartment in Whittier, Calif.

The daughter of David and Marie Schroeder, she was born at Mt. Lake, Minn., on Dec. 4, 1918. She took teacher's training at Bethel College and taught in Kansas and Nebraska before following her parents to Los Angeles in 1944. She taught for five years at Culter Academy.

She transfered her membership from the First Mennonite Church in Mt. Lake to Immanuel Mennonite Church in Downey, Calif., where she retained active membership while serving in India or at home.

From 1952 to 1963 she taught Grade 1 at Woodstock School in India under the auspices of the General Conference Mennonite Church. During an extended furlough she helped take care of her aging parents, taught in public school and completed her master's degree at the University of Southern California.

From 1968 to 1973 she again taught Grade 1 in India, this time at Beacon School at Korba. Following a short furlough she returned to teach at Woodstock. Three months later she suffered a heart attack.

While on vacation in 1975 at Kabul, Afghanistan, she had a severe coronary arrest. Eventually she was able to travel to the U. S. After living with family members for some months she was able to move into her own apartment. She became active in the work of the local church.

A memorial service was held Feb. 6 at the church with Fred Buckels officiating.

She is survived by her brother and three sisters and their spouses, Jerrold and Bobbie Schroeder, Vivian and Fred Kuemerle, Imogene and Leonard Booker and Marcia and Gordon Yeager, all of California; 11 nieces and nephews; and 11 grandnieces and grandnephews.

The Mennonite obituary: 1983 Aug 2 p. 381

text of obituary:

A life of dedicated service

Kathryn and Aron Jantzen

Lorraine Marie Schroeder, Mennonite missionary to India from 1953 to 1975, died of a heart attack on Feb. 1 at her apartment in Whittier, Calif. She is survived by her brother and three sisters and their spouses, Jerrold and Bobbie Schroeder. Vivian and Fred Kuemerle, Imogene and Leonard Booker and Marcia and Gordon Yaeger, all of California. Eleven nieces and nephews, and 11 "grands" will miss their aunt.

Daughter of David and Marie Schroeder, Lorraine was born at Mountain Lake, Minn., on Dec. 4, 1918. Graduating as valedictorian of her high school class, she took teacher's training at Bethel College (North Newton, Kan.) and taught in Kansas and Nebraska before following her parents to Los Angeles in 1944.

From First Mennonite, Mountain Lake, Lorraine transferred her membership to Immanuel Mennonite Church in Downey, Calif., where she retained active membership the rest of her life.

From 1952 to 1963 Lorraine, under the auspices of the General Conference, taught grade one at Woodstock, an international school in northern India. Especially gifted to teach children to read, Lorraine's love for them evoked immediate response as she told them of Jesus Christ.

In 1952 Lorraine first trudged up the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains to Woodstock School. For 11 years this became not only her place of work but her home and place of service. Lorraine loved her first graders. She received them when they were in boarding for the first time, separated from parents for the first time — most of the parents being missionaries from all parts of India — and she showered them with love and attention. She created the climate which laid the foundation for good reading and a good education. Many young adults today call her blessed. Lorraine's concern — along with good education — was the spiritual welfare of the children.

Many parents also call Lorraine blessed. It was a comfort for them to know that Lorraine was up in the hills where their children were, taking a special interest in them.

Lorraine returned to the United States in 1963 for an extended furl9ugh. In 1968 she was appointed grade one teacher at Beacon School, which is a General Conference English medium school in Korba, Madhya Pradesh, India. Being the only non-Indian on the faculty of 15, she faced the problem of identification with her fellow teachers and students. It was difficult for her to adjust from the U.S. system of education to the Indian system based on examinations, homework and discipline. Lorraine learned to know each teacher and developed special relationships. Language was an obstacle. Some of her little ones knew no English, and she knew little Hindi. Most of the students in Beacon School came from a no-Christian background, but Lorraine was faithful in teaching spiritual values.

Books were a vital part of her life. One could not talk with her long before she would be referring to something she had read or suggesting some article or book for the visitor to read. Spiritual nurture was a part of her life and service. Lorraine set up a library with a cataloging system in Beacon School. Her small apartment was cluttered with books.

Lorraine's energy knew no bounds; she was busy, busy, busy. Her hands were rarely idle.

Lorraine lived a committed and consecrated Christian life. She saw the good in others and overlooked their faults. She sought to understand people and interpret their actions. In a land known for its poverty, she gave generously to the poor and to those who suffered injustices.

During one extended furlough, Lorraine helped take care of her aging parents, taught in public school and completed requirements toward a Master's degree at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

In the mid-1970s Lorraine was again appointed to teach grade one at Woodstock. Three months later she suffered a heart attack. While on vacation in 1975 at Kabul, Afghanistan, she had a severe coronary arrest. Receiving the best medical care, she was eventually able to travel to the United States under escort of former co-worker Joe Duerksen, an anesthesiologist and specialist in heart emergencies, returning from northern India.

Living with family members for some months, Lorraine recovered sufficiently to move into her own apartment. Instead of teaching in school, she tutored children in their homes, maintained the church library, directed Vacation Bible School, carried on an aggressive visitation program in the area and transported children to and from Sunday school and church services.

The subject of high risk coronary surgery was discussed with her doctor a number of times, but Lorraine was hesitant to make this final decision for a triple bypass. She trusted her lord to the end. While friends waited for her at the Tuesday Bible class, the Lord opened heaven's glorious door and personally ushered Lorraine into his presence.

Friends from far and near filled Immanuel Church for the memorial service on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 6, with her pastor, Fred Buckels, in charge. Reading a brief obituary, her brother Jerry added that even as children, Lorraine and he had talked of becoming missionaries, but "only Lorraine made it."

Pastor Buckels concluded the service with appropriate expressions of appreciation for Lorraine's dedicated and varied services, challenging any unsaved to give their hearts to the Lord and her many friends to follow Lorraine's example in more faithful service.

At the request of the family members, a Lorraine Schroeder Memorial Fund was set up for work in India under the Commission on Overseas Mission, Box 347, Newton, KS 671114.