Ron Schraeder

Ronald D. Schraeder was born in Elmhurst, Illinois on February 9, 1938. In his early childhood days, the family moved and lived in Cicero, Illinois. In 1949, the family moved to Wichita, Kansas due to employment opportunities for his father. In Wichita, the family settled in the Riverside community.

During Ron’s attendance at Riverside Grade School and North High School, he became friends with other Riverside area young men. At a young age, he also started collecting international stamps and became President of the North High School Stamp Club.

Ron enjoyed and cherished the fact that the “Riverside Guys” group remained in contact with each other through many years clear up to the present time. At some point, Ron became known in the group as “Big Ron” and his annual birthday became a focus date to gather, have a meal and birthday cake with some gifts, visit and enjoy sharing current events and old- time stories. His nephew, Mike Molde and wife, Debbie, initiated a family and friend big surprise celebration on Uncle Ronnie’s 80th Birthday.

At a young age, Ron worked for Santa Fe Railroad and developed a love for trains lasting throughout his lifetime. In later years, Ron worked at family-associated construction projects, as well as worked for Derby Refining for a period of time.

Due to Ron’s love for trains, he and friend, Lorraine, began taking annual train vacations. Over the years, they traveled and enjoyed every Amtrak train route in the United States. One year, they left Seattle, Washington and traveled north into Canada by train before returning to Seattle to travel over the scenic Amtrak Coastal Starlight route from Seattle down the California coast to Los Angeles.

Ron also loved his Czech heritage and became an active member over the years in the Kansas Czech Club serving a term as Vice-President and Club Historian for many years. He went to every annual Czech festival in Wilson, Munden, and Cuba, Kansas. One year, he thoroughly enjoyed going to the annual Czech festival in Wilbur, Nebraska, which is the Czech Capital of the United States.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Lowell and Lorraine, brother Robert, sister Kathy (Price), and brother Mike.

Surviving family members and devoted friends are sister Jeannie (David) Emmerich of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, sister Sharon Krueger, Goddard, Kansas, nieces and nephews, the lifelong “Riverside” friends and spouses, and long-time friend and companion, Lorraine Hoffman.

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, March 15, 2021 at Smith Mortuary, 1415 N. Rock Rd, Derby with burial to follow at Wichita Park Cemetery, 3424 E 21st St N, Wichita.

A memorial has been established with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 3450 N Rock Rd #204, Wichita, KS 67226.