Edwin Schroeder

April 16, 1913 - October 8, 2009

Edwin W. Schroeder 1913-2009 Edwin W. Schroeder, 96, a lifelong resident of Holyoke, recently passed away after a short stay at the Holyoke Geriatric Center and at the Holyoke Soldiers� Home. A veteran, Edwin served as a machinist mate in the Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theatre on the island of Okinawa. Before and after the war, he worked at Worthington Corp. first as a machinist and after graduation from Northeastern University as a design engineer. After his retirement, Edwin worked in his garden, kept bees and belonged to the Hampden County Beekeepers Society, grew butternut and fruit trees, fed and observed birds, traveled to Europe seeking family roots, visited Austria, Germany and the Netherlands and tinkered endlessly in his basement and garage. Edwin was pre-deceased by his wife, Lois Schroeder and his sister, Edna, both also lifelong Holyoke residents. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Sally and Ken Demars of Ashford, CT and a son and daughter-in-law, Eric Schroeder and Suzanne Heiser of Nashua, NH as well as four grandchildren, Sara and Nathan Demars and Matthew and Daniel Schroeder. The family would like to thank the staff members of the Holyoke Geriatric Center, the Holyoke Soldiers� Home and the hospice unit of the Holyoke Visiting Nurses Association for their exceptional care of Edwin. Funeral services are Saturday (today) October 10, 2009 at the Messier Funeral Home 1944 Northampton St., Holyoke at 2 p.m. A calling hour will be held prior to the service starting at 1 p.m. Burial will follow in Forestdale Cemetery, Holyoke. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the First Lutheran Church School 1810 Northampton St., Holyoke, MA 01040.