Charles William Schroeder

December 4, 1932 – December 27, 2024

With great personal sadness but everlasting thanksgiving, we remember Charles William Schroeder, who passed into eternal life on December 27, 2024. Charles lived a long, full life dedicated to ranching, serving the community, and helping others in time of need, never saying no to anyone that asked for help.

Born to Charlie and Hermine Ahlers Schroeder on December 4, 1932, he had one sister, Elsie Ann Schroeder Schneider. Charles was born, raised, and died in the same house that his daddy built in Hebbronville. He worked at the family grocery store, People’s Supply, and served in the Korean War and the US Army from 1953-1955. After graduating from Texas A&I with a degree in Mechanical Agriculture, he went into ranching where he raised Beefmaster cattle. With over 65 years of ranching experience, he taught his nephews, John and Charles Schneider, how to ranch from an early age and was always ready to lend his expertise when a bulldozer or John Deere tractor needed work.

Charles was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church until it closed in 2022. He helped maintain the buildings, held the treasury position, and worked on various committees. Charles also drove the church van to pick up children in the local community, bringing them to Sunday school and church, transporting them to camps and other church related activities. When missionaries came to town, he worked alongside of them building many of the wheelchair ramps in people’s houses you see around town. He was also a Boy Scout leader, taking the scouts on many camping trips.

He was a member of the Greenhill Cemetery Association, kept the records for many years, and knew most of the people that lived in Hebbronville through the years. Charles walked the cemetery to ensure that each plot was correctly marked, maintained the water system, and trapped and killed hogs rooting up gravesites.

Charles had a great sense of humor, even to the end. On the morning of his passing Charles was asked if he saw angels, which he said “Yes”, reached up, and said “Got One.” During his later years he was determined to keep his independence of living alone, so he created methods using ropes, height adjustments, wheels, pulleys, and anything else that he could engineer to compensate and make life the best he could.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Hermine Schroeder, sister Elsie Schneider, and his uncle Ernest Ahlers.

He is survived by two nieces and two nephews, Sandra Schneider Hegar (husband Joe) of San Antonio, John Schneider (wife Rhonda) of Premont, Charles(Skeeter) Schneider (wife Dora) of Premont, and Susan Schneider Wilganowski (husband David) of Bryan, as well as many great and great-great nieces and nephews, and close friend Andy Miller of Hebbronville.

The family is extremely grateful for his caretakers Meli Canales and Samantha Ruiz during his final days at home.

Pallbearers are Josh Hegar, James Hegar, Russell Hegar, Steve Washko, William Washko, Chance Schneider, and David Charles Wilganowski. Honorary Pallbearers are Andy Miller and Eddie Flores.

While Charles has gone on to greener pastures, we invite all who knew and loved Charles to join us at the graveside service at Greenhill Cemetery on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., to celebrate his life.