Lawrence (Don) Roederer

Don Roederer, 92, of Roeland Park, KS passed peacefully at his home, Dec 6th, 2022, surrounded by family.  A dedicated Husband, Father and Grandfather, Don placed his family above all else.  His legacy includes a tribe of 8 children, (Karen Albert, Larry (Donna) Roederer, Cynthia Roederer, Steve (Sheryl) Roederer, Joe (Nancy) Roederer, Chris (Ericka Curran) Roederer of Dayton, Ohio and Susan Gosch.  He also leaves 16 Grandchildren and 10 Great-Great Grandchildren, all of whom he was exceptionally proud.    He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 67 years, Ruth Roederer (nee, Maasen), son Denis of San Antonio, TX,  granddaughters, Jennifer Mendez of Edgerton, KS and Gretchen Gosch of Roeland Park, KS,  all of whom are gravely missed.  

Born in Chicago, Illinois April 19, 1930, an only child, he lost his mother at the age of 8,  first moving to St. Louis MO and then to Frankenstein, MO as a boy to live with his maternal Grandpa and Grandma Koeningsfeld.  As a young man, he moved to Linn, MO, where he was raised by his adoptive family, Uncle Dennis and Aunt Rosie Schroeder, and cousins Frank, Judy, Mary Jo, Lois, and Ruthie.  

After their marriage, March 31, 1951, Don and Ruth made their home in Roeland Park, Kansas where they raised their family. 

Don was a faithful and active decades-long member of the Cursillo Movement and as a 34 year long  active member and  4th degree Knight of Columbus, he was Financial Secretary from 1995 - 2005 and Treasurer from 2006 to 2008.  He taught CCD courses, Senior Safe Drivers Ed Courses at AARP (in his early 80’s no less!) and was a Money Counter for the Church Collection.  

As a 61 year member of St. Pius X Church, he worshiped and worked alongside his wife Ruth as a volunteer for projects too numerous to count.  Together, they worked and supervised at the Election Polls, served on the Food Kitchen Team and took Communion to the home-bound.  With their good friends, Rudy and Rosemary Pappert, they had a booth in the West Bottoms First Friday’s weekends where they sold hand-made baked goods and became notorious for their yearly donation to Charity where bidders “fought” for home-made gourmet dinner parties served at their homes yearly, raising thousands of dollars over the years.  

 A “Student of Life” and an Artist at heart, his career as a Teamster didn’t define the man he was and his need to create was evident in his constant presence in the kitchen and at the BBQ grill, the hand-knotted rosaries he made and donated as gifts, the photographs he developed, the wood-working projects he completed and the musical instruments he learned to play.  As a lover of nature and God’s creatures, he positioned himself in his recliner, camera nearby and bird feeder beyond where he (Gracie, Little Abner and Daisy Mae, the three cats he came to love) entertained.

Don and Ruth both had a joy of life that led them to experience the world through travel.  The deep and lifelong friendships they forged included an extended network of cousins, childhood and church friends and in later years those he “held court” with at the Community Center who became an integral part of his life after Ruth passed.  

Mostly, Don will be remembered by those who knew him as the love of Ruth’s life, as a never ending fountain of positivity, daily jokes (mostly good) and a man who refused to hold a grudge.  He was unfailingly loyal, and, always, as a man who “whistled while he worked”.

A visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 am., Saturday, December 10th, 2022 at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Mission, followed by a Rosary at 10:40 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 am. Don will be laid to rest beside his wife Ruth at St. John Catholic Cemetery in Lenexa, Kansas. 

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