J.P. Schroeder

J.P. Schroeder left his earthly home with his family present as he transitioned to the arms of Jesus on Sunday, January 13, 2013 at St. David's North Austin Medical Center, after a brief but fierce battle with lung cancer and pulmonary fibrosis.
J.P. was born on a cold and icy day --- January 27, 1936 to Arthur Herman Schroeder, Sr. and Bertha Klaus Schroeder in Elgin, Texas. He attended Elgin schools and graduated from EHS in 1954. He attended Blinn Junior College in Brenham where he played baseball and transferred to Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, where he again played baseball for the Cowboys. He graduated from HSU in 1959 with a BBA. He worked for Elgin National Bank until 1966, when he went to work for the Comptroller's Office of the State of Texas, retiring in May, 1993. After retirement, he worked at Riata Ford in Elgin and Manor. He was involved with the Earn to Learn Reading Program through Riata Ford at Manor Elementary School. J.P. made many friendships through his workplaces that he nurtured through the years and genuinely valued.
J.P. was a very loyal person and helped many individuals find jobs and served in many areas of the Elgin community. He was a member of the Elgin Masonic Lodge, A.F.& A.M. 328 and served as Worshipful Master; he was a member of the Elgin ISD School Board, serving as President; he was a faithful member of Elgin First United Methodist Church for over 52 years, where he served on numerous committees and boards. J.P. passed his love of baseball on to his Little League teams as a coach for a number of years; he was one of the founding members of the charitable organization, Cattlemen for Cancer Research and served on the cattle auction committee; he was a member of the Elgin Rod and Gun Club; served in the Texas National Guard and was a member of the HSU Cowboys for Christ.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman and passed the love of those sports on to his sons and grandchildren. There were many stories, oft repeated, of hunting trips in New Mexico, Colorado, South Texas and most especially, his favorite spot on earth, the Drei Bruder Ranch in Goldthwaite, Texas. He loved every aspect of the ranch and was so happy to provide his sons, grandsons and their friends a place to enjoy the sport...always with fire in camp.
J.P. was preceded in death by his parents; his mother and father-in-law, Gervaise and Naoma Medford and a sister, Artie Mae Schroeder.
He is survived by his wife of over 52 years, Glynda Medford Schroeder; sons, Mitchell and wife Gina of Elgin and San Saba; Jeffrey and wife Lorie of Elgin and Matthew and wife Michelle, of Richardson, Texas; grandchildren Wesley Schroeder and wife, Kristin of Elgin; Justin Schroeder of San Antonio and Elgin; Garrett Schroeder of College Station, Texas; Grayson Schroeder of Elgin; Will and Sydney Schroeder of Richardson, Texas; the newest joy of his life, great-grandson, Wyatt Schroeder of Elgin; brother, Arthur Schroeder, Jr. and wife Jan of Elgin; sister and brother-in-law Sandra and Jack Moss of Lubbock, Texas and a host of relatives and friends throughout Texas.
Visitation will be held Friday, January 18 at Providence-Jones Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. A private family burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 19, with a celebration of life service to follow at 11 a.m. Saturday, at the Elgin First United Methodist Church, 216 W. Third St., Elgin.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cattlemen for Cancer Research, 650 Cool Water Drive, Bastrop, Texas 78602 or to the J.P. and Glynda Schroeder Scholarship fund to Elgin FUMC, 216 W. Third Street, Elgin, Texas 78621.