Rhoda Jean Schroeder, née Gilmer, died peacefully on October 25, 2020 in Boise, Idaho, at the age of 87.
Rhoda is survived by her husband Harold E. Schroeder of Meridian, and her daughters Heather Schroeder Mullen, MD (Patrick) and Holly Rebecca Schroeder of Santa Clarita, California and Harmony Rae Schroeder, MD (Edward) of Boise, Idaho.
Rhoda was born on October 14, 1933 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Alvin and Julia Gilmer. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis in 1951. After graduating from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana in 1957, she became a deaconess at St. James Lutheran Church in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. She met Harold, a young Lutheran pastor in Detroit, and they married in 1959. They had many happy years together that included three children and travel throughout the world. Starting with yearly camping trips, and extending trips to Germany, Norway, Kenya and Italy, Rhoda shared her love of travel with her children.
They lived many years in Kent, Ohio where Rhoda earned a Masters in Education from Kent State University. She had a successful career as a school psychologist at many Ohio schools including Tallmadge City Schools, Our Lady of the Elms in Akron, Crestwood Local School District and Hudson School District. She and Harold eventually settled in Hudson where she was active in the choir and church leadership at Christ Church Episcopal.
Rhoda was an accomplished seamstress and made the wedding dresses for each of her daughters. Her children and grandchildren remember her fondly for their many Halloween costumes. She was passionate about children and education and changed many people’s lives for the good.
Condolences can be posted on this page, sent to Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel, or sent to Harold at halschroed@aol.com.
The family would like to thank Morningstar Memory Care and Keystone Hospice in Boise for their care and dedication.