Donald Schrader, 83, of Wells, formerly of Easton, died Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, at his home in Wells. Funeral services will be held Friday, Nov. 20, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Easton. The Rev. Ronald Jobe will officiate. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells and one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Burial will be in St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded by the Easton Legion and Wells VFW. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is in charge of arrangements.
Donald Schrader was born June 25, 1926, in Easton, the son of William and Elsie (Ramspott) Schrader. On July 24, 1953, he married Ardis Wigern in Kiester.
He attended Delavan High School. In 1951, he joined the Army. When he returned from Army service in 1953, he farmed in the Easton area until his retirement in 1999, at which time he and Ardis moved to Wells. Donald was a partner in the Easton Grain Elevator. He was a member of the Easton Legion and Wells VFW, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and the Lura Township Board. He loved watching his grandkids play sports, playing cards, his morning coffee with friends and watching farm work get done.
Donald is survived by his wife, Ardis; three sons: Jeff Schrader and wife Marie (Trio) of Easton, Tom Schrader and wife Mary Lee (Ince) of Jordan and Tim Schrader and fiancé Laurie Beckmann (Schultz) of Bloomington; five grandchildren: Shannon (Chris) Albers, Ryan, Adam, Andy and Nicole Schrader; brother, Fred Schrader, of Apple Valley; sister, Irene Miller of Albert Lea; brother-in-law, Manville (Jeanette) Wigern of Kiester; sister-in-laws: Gilma Lamping of Forest City, Iowa, and Betty Ann Elwell of Roswell, N.M.
He was preceded in death by his parents William and Elsie Schrader; son, Craig Schrader; grandson, Dave Schrader; daughter-in-law, Jennifer Schrader; brothers: Melvin Schrader and Richard Schrader; and sister, Elaine Hundley-Peterson.