Keith Carl Schroeder

Keith was born June 30, 1936, in Springfield, IL, the son of Reuben Olaf Schroeder and Virginia Elizabeth (McDonough) Schroeder.

Keith graduated from Springfield High School in 1954. During his high school years, Keith was President of both his freshman and senior classes. He won 9 varsity letters in football, basketball, and baseball. He was captain of all three teams as a senior. He was All City Quarterback and Catcher in both his junior and senior years.

Keith graduated from DePauw University in 1958 with Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Minor in Mathematics. While at DePauw, he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity serving as Vice President, pledge trainer and song leader. He also won 4 letters for baseball and was All Conference Third Baseman in his junior and senior years.

Keith was also a member of five State Championship baseball teams; one of which was inducted into the Springfield Sports Hall of Fame.

Keith was employed by Franklin Life Insurance Company for 33 ½ years, starting in the Manager Trainee program and working his way up in the company to Division Vice President of Franklin Life Insurance Company and Vice President of Franklin United and American Franklin companies.

While at Franklin Life, he served on the Board of Directors for several charities, including the American Red Cross and United Way. He became a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce and was elected Chairman of the Board in 1992.

Keith was also one of the founding members and the first Chairman of the Board of Directors of Leadership Springfield.

Keith loved to bowl and golf and he served as President of three bowling leagues and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Springfield Bowling Association. He became Chairman of the Board in 1990 and was All City Bowling Team in 1974. He was one of only a few people to bowl a 300 game and have a hole-in-one in golf.

Keith was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon; sister, Carol Taylor; daughter, Barbara Cody; step-granddaughter, Kaitlin Christy; and two great grandsons, Logan and Nathan Roberts.

He is survived by two daughters, Martha Blackwell of Springfield and Amy (Ron) Mihalich of New Berlin; grandchildren, Eric Schroeder, Ashley Mihalich, and Nicholas Mihalich, all of Springfield, and Jessica (Brad) Roberts of Evansville, IN; 6 great grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; and one niece, Laura (John) Taylor of Elizabethtown, Kentucky. From his marriage to Sharon, he had one step-daughter, Marsha (Tim) Morgan of Springfield; and one step-son, Lee (Gina) Ingraham of South Carolina. He also had 6 step-grandchildren, Megan (Chris) Antonacci of Williamsville, Kelsi Smole and Sean Christy of Springfield, Gianna Elliott, Milana Smith, and Heston Ingraham, all of South Carolina; and 5 step-great grandchildren.

Private family ceremonies were held at Butler Funeral Home-Springfield.

In lieu of flowers please donate to Keith’s favorite charities, St. Jude, Shriner’s Hospital for Kids, or ASPCA.