Arlene Mae Schroeder

Arlene was born in Elgin, Illinois on October 28, 1929, to Esther and Fred, amidst the Great Crash of the Wall Street Stock Market. She was the eldest, with four younger brothers, Dave born in 1932, Fred Jr. (Fritzie) born in 1933, Charles died at birth in 1939, and Ken born in 1941. Despite growing up during the Great Depression, she found happiness in agrarian life in Dundee, IL writing that “life was good.” During the warm summer months, she spent her days with her best friend Phyllis and on the cold winter nights, she enjoyed her dad’s home-grown white popcorn with her brothers.

Arlene graduated from Dundee High School in 1947 and a year later from Ellis Business School. She was a homemaker and active in her community. She worked in banking for over 25 years, at First National Bank of Dundee and then later at Sun Bank (Sun Trust), Orlando, Florida, retiring as an Administrative Assistant in 1994.

In 1947, Arlene met Benjamin (Ben) Schroeder at her church, Immanuel Lutheran Church, when his family transferred there. Arlene and Benny (as she affectionately called him), started dating in 1951, then shortly after he was called back into the Reserve with the Air Force. He asked her to wait for him, and she did. He returned in 1953, and the following year, Arlene and Benny married on May 15, 1954, at their church. They spent their honeymoon in Daytona Beach, FL, and there they decided “one day they would leave the cold of IL and move to FL.”

Building a house in Naperville, IL, Arlene and Benny enjoyed living with their big extended family nearby. By 1959, Arlene and Benny had four children Cindy, Linda, David and Ruth. The family packed up and made the move to the warmer weather of Orlando, FL in 1974, as much of Benny’s family had already done. Soon after, they moved to their house on Sedgwick, a favorite of the kids, cousins and friends for its deep swimming pool and large patio made with concrete poured by Benny. For family gatherings, Benny grilled, and Arlene baked her famous brownies. In 1976, they became active members of Zion Lutheran Church. After retiring, Arlene and Benny spent their summers at their second home in Franklin, North Carolina – enjoying the cool mountain air and listening to live music in town. Later, they moved to a condo in Conway as Benny’s health deteriorated.

Over the years, Arlene experienced great joy with the marriages of her children, births of grandchildren and later great-grandchildren but also great loss with the passing of her husband Benny and children Cindy and David. After Benny’s passing in 1999, she was determined to “keep busy”. She became a member of Hope Lutheran Church in 2001 serving in the choir, altar guild and quilters. She took care of the plants inside and outside the church. Her faith and her community at Hope helped her get through those difficult times. She wrote, “As long as our Lord keeps me in His care, I’ll continue to drive out to Hope and keep busy. Thank you all for being my Christian friends along the way.”

Arlene loved to celebrate - birthdays, holidays and life’s many events. She was quick-witted and would crack a joke when you least expected it. Her life was blessed with “good company.” She especially loved Polka music and dancing and of course Bavarian food and drink - an homage to her German grandparents. Arlene wrote of her 80th birthday party, “what a happy time it was”. In her final years, she enjoyed the warm days outside in the rocking chairs on the porch at Lutheran Haven visiting with family and friends.

She is survived by her daughters Linda and Ruth (Kirk), son-in-law Tom, four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, her brothers Dave and Fred and numerous nieces and nephews.

Arlene would tell the little ones, “Call me Grandma.” Lessons Grandma shared with us: Keep busy. Keep moving. Send cards, write, and call. Get outside. Plant flowers. Be kind to animals. Treat yourself. Save room for dessert – especially for her famous brownies.

A service followed by a luncheon will be at Hope Lutheran Church, Orlando, FL on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 10:30 am. At 2:30 pm, a wake will be held at Woodlawn Memorial Park Funeral Home, Gotha, FL. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Hope Lutheran Church.