Loretta Schroder Rodenburg

Loretta Caroline Schroder Rodenburg was born to Christian parents in Okarche on June 11, 1919.

She passed away peacefully at her home in Springfield, Ill., on May 22, 2020.

The only surviving child of Henry W. and Clara Schroder, she grew up in Okarche.

Loretta attended St. John’s Lutheran School and Church where she was confirmed in German and English in 1933.

She graduated in 1937 as valedictorian from Okarche High School where she played basketball, which remained her favorite sport.

Loretta attended the Oklahoma College for Women (University for Science and Arts of Oklahoma) in Chickasha for two years then transferred to Oklahoma A&M College (OSU).

She remained an ardent Cowboy fan.

During World War II, she gave up school with three hours remaining until graduation and accepted a secretarial position for the Federal Agricultural Adjustment Administration (Department of Agriculture).

After a year with the USDA she returned to A&M to be the secretary to the head of the Poultry Department.

Two years later she was hired as a secretary in the headquarters of Hallmark Greeting Cards in Kansas City.

In Kansas City, she met J. Robert (Bob) Rodenburg and they were married at St. John’s in Okarche on July 27, 1947.

They moved to Springfield where he joined his father in the family business, Federated Funeral Directors of America. Bob died in 1985.

Loretta was a homemaker and active Trinity Lutheran School volunteer including: room mother, Cub Scout den mother, Parent-Teacher League, and head librarian for Trinity Lutheran School for 20 years.

She was also church librarian for 10 years, a Sunday school and Vacation Bible School teacher and she held many offices in Trinity’s Lutheran women’s society.

She served as secretary of the Country Club Place Condo Association for several years. She was also a member of King’s Daughters Home (Third Day Circle), Christian Women’s Club, Oklahoma’s Business and Professional Society and the Oklahoma Historical Society.

She published her autobiography, Three-Part Invention, in 2002.

After Bob died, she was an avid reader and made family scrapbooks for her three sons. She also made dresses for her granddaughters.

She was preceded in death by her pioneer grandparents Fritz and Caroline (Röhrdanz) Schroder and Henry F. and Marie (Zum Mallen) Meyer; her parents Henry and Clara (Meyer) Schroder; an infant sister Lorene and husband Bob.

She is survived by sons John (Linda) Rodenburg and Kenneth (Debbie) Rodenburg, both of Springfield, and Mark Rodenburg of Castle Rock, Colo.

She is also survived by her grandchildren Amy (Jeff) Maillet, John R.W. (Maureen) Rodenburg, Ann Rodenburg, Kenneth (Keri) Rodenburg, Jr., Lauren (Adam) Kirsch, Lisa (Michael) Althaus, Kevin (Rachel) Rodenburg, 13 great-grandchildren and several first cousins.

Memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Due to COVID-19, services will be private, with burial at Oak Ridge Cemetery Springfield.

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