Richard "Rick" Schroeder

Richard Mallory Schroeder, age 83, of Savoy, Illinois, passed away on August 15, 2025.

Richard was born March 27, 1942 in Danville Illinois to the late Paul T and Sadie E (Mallory) Schroeder. Richard graduated from Danville High School in 1960. He retired from URS Corporation, Decatur, Illinois, in 2014

Richard married Barbara Susan Bastian March 27, 1998; she survives, as does his son Bradley A. Schroeder of Omaha, Nebraska. Richard was proceeded in death by his father, mother, three uncles and aunts and four cousins.

Richard worked in Danville, Illinois for a Professional Engineer and Land Surveyor for 10 years, He spent 6 years in the U.S. Army Reserve, worked for 2 years at the Illinois Department of Transportation in Paris, Illinois and in 1975 went to work for Warren and Van Pragg, Consulting Engineers in Decatur. Richard obtained his Professional Land Surveyors license in 1982 and became a Project Manager for the company and which was purchased by URS Corporation, until his retirement.

Richard hobbies are gardening, model railroading and an early interest in astronomy. He was an early member of the Danville Astronomical Society, founding member the Danville Junction Chapter, National Railway Historical Society. He was founding member, first President and later Treasurer and Archivist, of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad Historical Society. In 2004 he, his wife and 11 other hosta lovers founded the Illinois Prairie Hosta Society in Champaign, Illinois. Both have been lifetime members of the Vermilion County Museum. Married in 1998 Rick and Barbara created hosta garden around their first home in Champaign and were on several garden walks. They both became Master Gardeners in 2011 and were instrumental with the hosta society in creating the University of Illinois Arboretum Hosta Garden.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Illinois Prairie Hosta Society, Vermilion County Museum, or the University of Illinois Arboretum Hosta Garden.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 until Noon on Friday, August 22, 2025 at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Champaign, Illinois 710 N Neil St. Champaign, Illinois 61820. A Chapel Mausoleum Committal Service will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday, August 22, 2025 at Spring Hill Chapel Mausoleum in Danville, 301 E Voorhees St., Danville, Illinois 61832. Pastor Dave Anderson will officiate.

Please join Richard’s family in sharing memories, photos, and videos on his tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.