Fulgence Jude 'F.J.' Schroeder
November 5, 1933-November 1, 2023
Fulgence Jude Schroeder, 90, died on All Saints Day, November 1, 2023. He was born at home on the farm in Rawlins County on November 5, 1933. He was the 9th of 11 children born to Margaret (Arendt) and Charles Schroeder.
FJ grew up as a farmer and rancher milking cows, breaking horses, herding cattle, farming dry land wheat, oats, and milo.
Fulgence attended grade school at Shawnee, a rural one-room schoolhouse as a child and later attended Atwood and Colby high schools. His love of wrestling gained him a state title his junior year.
Besides being a devoted husband and father, FJ served in the Navy, was a Knight of Columbus, taught religious education, financed overseas education for the poor, lead the rosary before mass for years, was a member of the John Birch Society, and was a friend to many in need.
FJ’s convictions in his faith and country ran deep. His many ‘letters to the editor’, congressmen, and even presidents attest to that. People of all walks of life were drawn to him for his ease of conversation. He took genuine interest in the people around him and had an easy laugh and smile that will be greatly missed. FJ loved to tell stories, true and otherwise. The wild boar and little green men stories held the attention of many ears. His stories of the hard years and lessons learned captured many hearts.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, John, Anthony Leon, Charles Martel, Nicholas Patrick, Rose, Delores, Barbara, and Mary Joan; son: Carl Frederick; and a few nieces and nephews.
He is survived by his wife of almost 50 years of marriage Emma Rita (Pflum); children, Cindy and Larry Hutfles, of Park City, KS, Tonya and Andrew Wong, of North Carolina, Bonny and Marc Schlomer, of Colorado, Luke and Laura Schroeder, of Colby, KS, and Rosalie and Mark Greene, of Wichita, KS; grandchildren, Luke, Eli, Liam, Faith, Eva, Arianna, and Cecilia Hutfles; Helen, Henri, Heather, Emma and Jude Wong; Natalie and Titus Schlomer; Isaac, Ella, Fiona, Levi, Vivian, Ruby, Jack and Will Schroeder; Philomena, John, and Charles Greene; and many nieces and nephews.
Fulgence’s burial was blessed by Fr. Lager and a funeral mass was said in St Patrick’s Cemetery, rural Rawlins County, on All Soul’s Day, November 2, 2023. Thank you to the many local family members and friends who were able to attend and pray for the repose of his soul.
A memorial mass will be said November 24, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Colby, Kansas.