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In Memoriam

Rev. Roy Schroeder VIEW PROFILE

Rev. Roy Schroeder

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Well known Okemos parents Pastor to Okemos families.  Joy, artist and beloved supporter of the arts.

Roy P. Schroeder, ThD, Pastor Emeritus

Ascension Lutheran Church, E. Lansing, MI

September 8, 1929 – January 20, 2021


Roy Philip Schroeder was born in Caro, Michigan, the son of Rev. Philip Schroeder and his wife, Esther (nee Ude), on September 8, 1929. The family moved to Lansing, Michigan in 1931 where Philip Schroeder, Sr. served as the Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church until 1961. 

Roy married Phyllis “Joy” Helge of St. Louis, Missouri on June 4,1955. They were blessed with six children -- Paul (1956 and OHS ‘74), Stephanie (1957 and OHS ‘75), Deborah (1959 and OHS ‘77), Christine (1961), Suzanne (1964 and OHS ‘82), John (1970 and OHS ‘88) -- thirteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Roy’s life was dedicated to preaching the Passion of Jesus Christ (birth, life, death, and RESURRECTION). He was also a prolific writer who authored a series of seven books (illustrated by his accomplished artist wife) entitled “Preaching the Passion” that proclaims the full Christian gospel story of Jesus’ passion. The Apostle Paul considered Christ crucified the essential element in his gospel. He told the Corinthians, “We proclaim Christ crucified” (1 Cor. 1:23). This is the message about the cross.

Roy received an extensive formal education that began at the age of 13 through completion of the first eight grades at Trinity Lutheran School in Lansing. He attended Concordia High and Junior College in Fort Wayne, IN and graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO in 1954. He stepped away from his formal education to serve a two-year vicarage and mission (1951-1953) in Sapporo, Japan. Upon his return to the States, Roy met his lovely wife, Joy, at the seminary where she was employed by the Sem in their radio station, KFUO. They sang together in the Bach Choir and married June 1, 1955. Roy was awarded a fellowship in the New Testament Department of the Seminary under Dr. Martin Scharlemann and completed the Master of Sacred Theology degree in 1955.

Roy’s ordination and installation took place at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Vincennes, IN on September 25, 1955. Two years later, Pastor Schroeder accepted a call to St. John Lutheran Church, Monroeville, IN (1957-1959). He and his growing family moved again when he accepted the call to serve as the first Pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Sparta, MI February,1959. From 1966-1967, Roy took a leave from Peace to complete his Doctor of Theology Degree at Concordia Seminary May 1967. In August 1971, he accepted a call to Ascension Lutheran Church in East Lansing, MI, which brought him full circle back to greater Lansing, Michigan. Dr. Schroeder served at Ascension for twenty-five years until his retirement on August 30, 1996.

Dr. Schroeder served as circuit counselor (1962-1966), a member of the Michigan District Board of Education (1968-1970) and a member of the District Board of Directors (1970-1974). He was a delegate to Synod Convention in Denver – member of Floor Committee on Theological Matters (1969). In addition to these professional activities, he presented essays to West Michigan pastors and teachers at various conferences. His articles have appeared in such publications as Currents in Theology and Mission, the Concordia Pulpit and For the Time Being.

Dr. Schroeder and his wife, Joy, created and directed The International Annual Christian Art Show, first produced while serving at Peace Lutheran Church in Sparta, Michigan. It was later moved to Ascension Lutheran Church in East Lansing, Michigan. There it became an international exhibit open to the public for two weeks during Easter with jurors and artists’ works submitted from across the country. It ran from 1961 to 1995.

 

As a result of his extensive education and mission, Dr. Schroeder spoke and/or interpreted in seven languages: Japanese, German, French, Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and Aramaic. His love of international travel and sharing the gospel with others -- that began as a missionary – led him to host 34 tours for parishioners, family and friends. Locations included the Middle East, Far East, China, Germany, the British Isles, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Guatemala, Ecuador/Galapagos, Costa Rica, India, and Spain.

His life centered not only around Christ and his family, but also sports. He was an avid Michigan State University (MSU) fan and season ticket holder for football, basketball, and hockey. He and Joy were active with the MSU Space Coast Alumni in Cocoa Beach, rooting Izzo and the Spartans on in basketball from Beef ‘O’ Brady’s. He loved family reunions in Myrtle Beach, Michigan, Nebraska and Cocoa Beach. Later in life, Roy and Joy enjoyed watching the sunsets in Cocoa Beach and sleeping with the sound of ocean waves beating against the beach.

 

Roy was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Christine Schroeder, two sisters (Lenore Stevens, Lois Stachel), brother (Robert Schroeder), two brothers-in-law (Walt Stachel, Dr. Erich E. Helge), and one sister-in-law (Donna Helge).

Roy leaves behind his wife, Joy, and five children and spouses: Paul (Ruth), Stephanie C. (Brad) Emerick, Deborah (Thomas Frase) Schroeder-Saulnier, Suzanne (Michael) Kulka, and John (Katherine) -- brother Philip (Sharon) Schroeder, sister-in-law Barbara (Robert) Schroeder; thirteen grandchildren – Aaron Schroeder, Luke Schroeder, Jessica (Jeff) Post, Rebecca (Nathan) Robison, Jennifer Stanley, Victoria Clemons, Tiffany (Aaron) Kinloch, Brittany Saulnier, Kyle Kulka, Christian Kulka, Michael Eriksen, Ryan Schroeder, Katelyn Schroeder; nine great-grandchildren and beloved nieces and nephews.

 

A funeral service for the family will be held on Saturday, January 30, at Ascension Lutheran Church 2780 Haslett Road, East Lansing MI. We will begin with a viewing at 10:00 a.m. and service at 11:00 a.m.

We are also “live streaming” the service, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Please join us on YouTube by clicking this link: https://youtu.be/-3ttbUkCMOU

The family will receive guests Friday, January 29 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the church.

Due to the pandemic, the family is also planning a Celebration of the Life of Dr. Roy Schroeder at a later date.

Contributions may be made in Pastor Schroeder’s memory to:

  • Ascension Lutheran Churchwww.ascensioneastlansing.org … Ascension is a place you come to be forgiven - a place to find healing for your soul - a place that will encourage you to be the human God created you to be. 
  • Bread for the Worldwww.bread.org … Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. By changing policies, programs, and conditions that allow hunger and poverty to persist, we provide help and opportunity at home and far beyond where we live.
  • Global Mission Fund https://www.lcms.org/givenow ... Global Mission Fund shares Jesus and Christian values with others through the work and service of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
  • LWMLwww.lwml.org … The Lutheran Women's Missionary League is the official women's auxiliary of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. 

 

Phyllis Joy Schroeder

July 27, 1932 – December 10, 2024

 

Phyllis Joy Helge was born on July 27, 1932, in St. Louis, Missouri to Mr. and Mrs. Erich Fred Helge (Philippine Bertha Groh). Joy married Roy Philip Schroeder of Caro, Michigan on June 4,1955. They gave birth to six children: Paul (1956), Stephanie (1957), Deborah (1959), Christine (1961), Suzanne (1964), and John (1970), as well as 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

While growing up Joy was exposed to the art world in many ways. Her mother designed hats for the wealthy ladies of St. Louis. Her father was a plant designer for the Jewel Box in Forest Park. Her grandfather was a woodworking artisan, and her great-grandfather was an architect.

Joy would say she couldn’t remember a time when she was not drawing. When she was very small her mother would sit her in front of a window and ask, “Do you see that squirrel? Draw it.” She never stopped drawing and every time something good happened in her art life, she raised a glass of wine to her mother in honor of everything she sacrificed for her, and her art career. In addition to drawing, Joy loved handmade paper, as well as other media and “found” materials. Most of her papermaking was done outdoors on her deck with her swimsuit and her hose. The pulp was hand-dyed and thrown over anything with texture such as bricks, wood, even deer bones.

Joy received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in design from Washington University - St. Louis Missouri. When she wasn’t at Bixby Hall, she was at the St. Louis Art Museum, her home away from home, where she spent countless hours sketching.

Joy’s gift of art was experienced by a vast number of people throughout her life. While evolving from the St. Louis city girl to country wife in Vincennes and Monroeville, Indiana, raising her first two children, she did everything from designing bulletin covers that were used by congregations throughout the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church to diving into abstract silk-screened art pieces. When Joy and Roy moved to Sparta, Michigan she created a contemporary Christian Art Show that ran 40+ years. It was a totally free, high-caliber, juried art exhibit that attracted regional, national and international talent. Four more children were born during those years.

Joy’s artwork came on the heels of many years of serigraphy. She studied with Jim McConnell at Michigan State University (MSU) after Joy and Roy moved to East Lansing. She then studied etching with MSU’s Jim Fagan. She also got hooked on printmaking. Her fascination with printmaking began while studying in Grand Rapids with John Goodyear, internationally known artist at the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum. Joy continued with her printmaking for some 30 years. She also taught Life Drawing at MSU’s Evening College and ran a weekly drop-in Life Drawing Session for artists for some 40 years.

Throughout the years her work was featured in numerous exhibits, several one-man shows, and international shows, such as International Society for Experimental Artists (ISEA) and ArtPrize. Her work hangs globally.

We kids literally grew up in her art studio, otherwise known as our home. We woke up to the smell of ink as she had worked on an art piece overnight, and yet managed to make us a beautiful breakfast. On Sunday mornings we were met with the aroma of her roast in the oven after church and later a five-course dinner complete with scrumptious desserts. And during the week, whenever we were home, she would be singing showtunes throughout the house.

Joy enjoyed her growing family. She enjoyed travelling the world. She also liked keeping current on what was happening in the news, especially sports … and especially her St. Louis Cardinals, MSU Spartans, Rafael Nadal’s tennis career and Tiger Woods.

As has been said by her brother, Erich Helge, “Joy was a beautiful person from birth. She retained that beauty and a warm magnetic personality” until the very end. Joy easily won the hearts of all that she met. She had never known what it was not to have friends.

Joy was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Schroeder, daughter Christine Schroeder, and brother Erich Helge.

Joy leaves behind five children: Paul (Ruth Kunze), Stephanie Clemons-Emerick (Brad Emerick), Deborah Schroeder-Saulnier (Thomas Frase), Suzanne Kulka (Michael Kulka), and John (Katherine Groves), brother Rev. Philip Schroeder (Sharon Schroeder), sister-in-law Barbara Schroeder (Rev. Robert Schroeder), 13 grandchildren, Aaron Schroeder, Luke Schroeder, Jessica Post (Jeff Post), Rebecca Robison (Nathan Robison), Jennifer Stanley, Victoria Clemons (Hayden Harman), Tiffany Kinloch (Aaron Kinloch), Brittany Saulnier, Kyle Kulka (Andrea Kulka), Christian Kulka, Michael Eriksen, Ryan Schroeder, Katelyn Schroeder, and 13 great grandchildren, Remington Post, Isabelle Post, Helen Robison, Simon Robison, Bonnie Ruth Robison, August Robison, Benjamin Robison, Joseph Stanley, Lillian Stanley, Ellie Kinloch, Hannah Kinloch, Kit Kulka, Tripp Kulka; and over 30 nieces and nephews.

A visitation for Joy will be held Friday, December 13, 2024 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Ascension Lutheran Church, 2780 Haslett Rd, East Lansing, MI 48823. A visitation will occur Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 2780 Haslett Rd, East Lansing, MI 48823. A celebration of life will occur Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 12:00 PM, 2780 Haslett Rd, East Lansing, MI 48823.



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