Bernard F. Schroeder

Bernard “Bernie” F. Schroeder, 89, of Shawnee, Kansas, passed away peacefully March 21, 2026, at the Olathe Hospice House. Visitation will be 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 27 at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 12800 W. 75th Street, Shawnee, Kansas. Rosary and reflection at 10:30 a.m. with the Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m.

Bernie was born August 27, 1936, in Windthorst, Texas, one of eleven children of Ben T. and Sophia Humpert Schroeder. He was raised on a Texas farm and spent many hours tending the fields and the animals. This started a lifelong love of gardening both vegetables and flowers. He generously shared the fruits of his labor with family and friends for many years.

He graduated from Subiaco Academy in Subiaco, Arkansas, in 1954 and from St. Benedict’s (now Benedictine) College in 1958. His time in these schools shaped many of his lifelong interests, none more than in sports and education. He was active in many sports, including playing baseball at both Subiaco and Benedictine. Bernie later received his master’s in education from Kansas State University.

After short stops in Seneca, Kansas, and Subiaco for his first teaching assignments, he landed in Salina, Kansas, at Sacred Heart High School. It was there that he began his coaching career, coaching cross country, basketball, football and track. He continued coaching whether formally or informally for years to come. This included coaching his children and grandchildren, their sports teams and any college or professional team that was playing on tv.

After moving to Shawnee in 1972, Mr. Schroeder (as he was known) became principal at St. Joseph’s Catholic Grade School until 1979. He later taught middle school and was principal at St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Kansas City, Kansas, until retiring in 2001. In true Bernie fashion, he didn’t fully retire but continued to substitute teach to earn money for one of his other great interests, golf. Bernie enjoyed golfing with his family, friends and other senior men into his 80s.

While teaching at Subiaco he became reacquainted with Emily Sax Wiederkehr, whom he had first met in high school. They were married on July 20, 1963, and Bernie instantly became a father to three children. Emily and Bernie enjoyed 62 years of marriage, supporting one another, sharing their strong Catholic faith and raising their six children.

Faith was an integral part of Bernie’s life. He led by example by praying the rosary, attending mass and living a faithful life. His last two days on earth were celebrating feast days of St. Joseph, the patron saint of workers and fathers, and St. Benedict, the patron saint of schoolchildren. Teacher, hard worker and father perfectly sum up the man that Bernie was.

Our family gatherings will not be the same without dad to play dominoes, cards, regale us with his many stories or offer quiet advice. But we know he is enjoying a much-deserved eternal reward.

Bernie is survived by his wife, Emily; their children and spouses, Dennis and Sharla Wiederkehr, Cheryl and Mike Poulin, Kathy and Mickey Sandifer, Kristi and Larry Livingston, David and Kristine Schroeder, and Eric and Amy Schroeder; by his grandchildren, Alicia Lamas, Mandy Borchardt and husband Josh, Emily Avra and husband Brian, Spencer Wiederkehr and wife Tasha, Samantha Hoffart and husband Ben, Maggie Berneking and husband Matt, Lexie Heck and husband Conner, Isaac Poulin, Ben Livingston, Erica Schroeder and Derek Schroeder; and his great-grandchildren, Davis and Nash Borchardt, Austyn and Beck Avra, Cain and Sophia Wiederkehr, and Barrett and Camden Hoffart. He is also survived by his brother, George Schroeder, and sisters, Sister Regina Schroeder and Mary Rose Lehman.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Elmer, Brother Leonard, Raymond and Clarence Schroeder, his sisters, Sister Barbara, Sister Marietta and Sister Stephanie Schroeder, his son-in-law, Jeff Lamas, and his great-granddaughter, Hadley Hoffart.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Olathe Hospice House, who took great care of Bernie and his family in his final days, or to Good Shepherd Catholic Church, where Bernie and Emily have been parishioners since 1973.