Caledonia Argus

Posted: 6/25/04

Orville Schroeder

Orville M. Schroeder, 79, of Caledonia, MN, died Sunday, June 20, 2004, at Gundersen-Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse.

He was born April 30, 1925, in Winnebago township, Houston County, Minnesota, to Martin and Martha (Kohlmeyer) Schroeder. Orville was a life-long member of St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church in Caledonia where he was baptized May 17, 1925, confirmed June 18, 1939, and married to Belva J. Wiebke August 14, 1950. He also served on the church council as financial secretary as well as several other committees.

Orville graduated from the World Wide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa on March 16, 1946 at the age of twenty. He immediatly became very active in a successfull auctioneering profession. From 1946 until his retirement in 1994, Orville sold over six thousand auctions in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois, including many livestock market auctions. He was a member of the Minnesota State Auctioneerís Association from its beginning in 1949, and served on the board of directors and as Association President. In 1989, Orville was inducted in the Minnesota State Auctioneerís Hall of Fame for his committment of excellence and contributions to the auctioneering profession.

In addition to auctioneering, he served as Vice-President and as Agriculture Representative for Sprague National Bank in Caledonia. Orville also served on the bank board of directors and had been a member of the Caledonia City Council. Orville and his long-time friend, the late Eddie Morken, also operated the Caledonia Livestock Market along with several farms in the area. Orville was a highly regarded citizen of Caledonia and he was proud to be recently honored as the Parade Marshall of Caledoniaís Sesquicentennial Celebration.

Survivors include four children, Randy (Linda) Schroeder, Lakeville, Jeanne Proksch, Scottsdale, AZ, Kathie (Steve) Ward, Tampa, FL, and LeAnn (Jerry) Sweeney, La Crescent; four grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; a sister, Wilma Burns, St. Charles; a very special friend and companion, Judy Smith, Caledonia; five sisters-in-law, Mildred Schroeder, Delores Heintz, Carol (Bob) Schwartzhoff, and Wilma Wiebke, all of Caledonia, and Darlene Doering of Minnesota City.

Orville was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Belva on January 7, 1991; his brother, Donald in September of 1998; a son-in-law, Jay Proksch in August of 1996; a sister and grandson in infancy; one sister-in-law, Mavis Klinski; and four brothers-in-law, Bill Burns, Luvern Wiebke, Glenn Heintz, and Paul Klinski.

Services were Thursday, June 24, at 11 a.m. at St. Johnís Ev. Lutheran Church, Caledonia. Rev. Jon Wolff officiated. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery. Friends called at the church on Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. and on Thursday from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Haugen-Roble-Jandt Funeral Home, Caledonia, was in charge of arrangements.

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