Mildred Schroeder

Obituary

Mildred Alice Bartel was born on June 17, 1924, and passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.

She was born in the small community of Nokomis, Saskatchewan, and grew up in Drake on Smiling Spruce Farm. She was the eldest of three children and lived with her parents, Hugo and Marie Bartel, until she went off to Rosthern Junior College for grade 11. She graduated high school in 1943 and continued her education at Saint Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon, where she completed her training to be a registered nurse. In 1947, Mildred enrolled in the first-ever class offered at Canadian Mennonite Bible College in Winnipeg. Highlights for her were singing, touring, and spending time with her friends. It was at CMBC that Mildred met her future husband, David Schroeder, who was a caretaker at the time. They married in June of 1949 and honeymooned in British Columbia, where they attended a conference with Dave’s parents. It was the first of many Conferences she would attend as her ‘vacation’.

The newlyweds soon settled in Winnipeg, where (newly ordained) Dave had taken a job as a minister. Their firstborn, Dorothy, arrived in 1951 with Lynette following close behind in 1953. Six weeks after Lynette’s birth, Dave contracted polio. While he did recover, he was unable to continue serving as a minister, so they made the choice to move to Hamburg where he would pursue his PhD. No longer a minister’s wife, Mildred supported her family as an English teacher on an army base in Hamburg. Mildred would hitchhike daily from their one-room suite in the Mennonite Church in Altona to the base to teach her classes and then hitchhike back to raise her two little girls.

After two years in Germany, Mildred and Dave received word that her mom had passed away unexpectedly. Mildred returned to Drake, Saskatchewan for the funeral. While there, she felt called to care for her recently widowed father, Hugo, and did not return to Germany. She and Dave decided to send their young daughters home on a plane by themselves to Saskatoon. After 6 months in Drake, Dave returned from Germany and the reunited family, along with Hugo Bartel, moved into the CMBC dormitory while they waited for their new home in Charleswood to be built. In 1961, Alan was born, completing Mildred’s nuclear family.

After Dave accepted a professorship at CMBC, the college once again became a huge part of both of their lives. It also provided an opportunity for Mildred and Dave to teach and travel in many parts of the world. Sabbaticals took them to Taiwan, Lithuania, South America, England, and Zimbabwe, to name a few. In the 1960s, Mildred returned to nursing, working in the maternity ward at Misericordia Hospital. She also spent countless hours volunteering for the Women’s Auxiliary. Working in thrift stores, preparing and serving food, and washing endless dishes – she did it all.

The 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s saw Mildred becoming a grandmother – a job that she relished and excelled at. The 1980s also brought a physical addition to 745 Coventry as Lynette, her husband Ernie, and their 2 (and then 3) children transitioned the house into a 4-generation home.

As has been known to happen, the 2010s and 20s brought about great-grandchildren, earning Mildred the title of “Grandma-Great”. Wanting to stay involved in the lives of young people, Mildred adapted by staying connected online and staying open to and accepting of all people and their identities. At this point, even if you were of no relation, she was also your Grandma-Great.

In 2020, Mildred embraced the move to Alan and Ruth’s for her remaining years. Mildred adapted to her new home and loved her life there. The care she received from Ruth, Alan, and her granddaughter Erin, was kind, loving, and incredibly precious. Mildred’s life ended surrounded by the love she instilled in her family.

Mildred was the heart of the family. She was the schedule keeper, food maker, wound patcher, tomato canner, soup maker, shirt ironer, clothes mender, quilt stitcher, child-minder, arts patron, social convener, Pfeffernusse connoisseur, resident meteorologist, chocolate storage specialist, and punctuality officer.

Mildred loved her people – and she had a lot of people. She was actively involved in the church community, the CMBC community, Emeritus, Ladies Lunch, small groups, church exercise classes, and Trailblazers.

Mildred’s legacy of kindness, generosity, and faith will be remembered by all who were fortunate to know her. She will be dearly missed.

The livestreamed funeral service to honour Mildred’s life will be held Friday, August 2nd, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Charleswood Mennonite Church, Winnipeg, MB., with reception to follow.

The interment will take place at Sage Creek Cemetery, Springfield, MB.

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