Joseph A. Schroedel, 94, of Rock Hill, South Carolina, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, January 26, 2025. Joe was born on December 9, 1930, in Minooka, Pennsylvania to the late Edward and Anna Schroedel of Minooka, PA. He is preceded in death by his wife Pearl Ruth Schroedel, and brothers Edward and Jack.
In life, Joe wore many different hats, each a representation of the man he was throughout his journey in life.
Joe was not unlike others who wore very similar hats to his, those that defined him as a son born to parents of Irish and German descent, the youngest brother to both Jack and Edward, husband (married to the cute, red-headed Jewish girl who knocked his socks off when she passed by the gas station where he worked in the summer, and who converted to Catholicism following their elopement and marriage in Utah, father to Joe (Kathy), Brenda, and Kim (Wayne), grandfather (Brian (Emily) , Marcy (Nick), Kelly (Jason), Allison (Bobby), Lori (Ray), and Matthew, Pop Pop (Big Pop) to Lena, Sebastien, Jason, Nick, Isabelle, Flynn, Bobby, Brayden, Isabella and Jordan.
Although the hats that defined his family were extraordinary, sometimes fitting perfectly, and sometimes needing adjustments as his journey continued, the one hat that truly defined him as a man was the one worn in service of our country. Joe served in the United States Air Force, retiring as a CM/Sgt after 30 years (attaining the rank at 18 years in service). This hat was the fundamental building block that shaped the trajectory of the family hats he would wear as his journey continued. His time in the military afforded his family the opportunity to travel the globe, opening their minds and hearts to the world around them. This hat too may have not fit perfectly at times, but as he and his family adapted, this hat would fit more securely.
Joe also wore hats that defined his faith. As a young boy at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Minooka, PA, he attended Mass twice on Sunday, once for himself, and the second to ensure his friend Mikey made it to Mass. As this hat aged, Joe served as a member of the Knights of Columbus in Delaware, volunteered at the Dorothy Day Soup kitchen with Mom, and delivered fruit to the Children’s Attention Home as an associate member of the St. Anne Conference of Saint Vincent de Paul. Over the years as Dad’s health declined and he grew weary, this hat grew stronger and fit to perfection.
Of course, Joe wore many playful hats throughout the course of his life as well, the best of which was his Santa hat. Never was there a year that Santa didn’t visit on Christmas Eve. He lovingly passed this hat down to his family who continue wearing it just perfectly today. Joe was active in the Boy Scouts, and introduced his family to the joy of camping, making homemade ice cream (which is where the friend hat can’t be ignored as it too fit perfectly), as well as taking his children and grandchildren on amazing trips abroad after he retired his military hat. As life continued and the family hats grew in number to include children getting married and having children of their own, the Pop hat (Pop Pop, Big Pop) became the most worn and treasured.
Dad’s memory will live on in our hearts as we reminisce about the vast number of hats he donned throughout his journey in life. Each hat represents innumerable stories of love, commitment, honor, faith and humor. Our family has been blessed beyond measure to have been on this journey with Dad, and after 94 years, he has placed the worn hats aside and journeyed home to a place of peace and comfort with God our heavenly father.
A mass for Joe and inurnment will be held at Saint Anne Catholic Church on Friday, February 7, 2025 at 1:30pm. 1694 Bird St, Rock Hill SC 29730
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saint Anne Catholic Church, 1694 Bird St, Rock Hill SC 29730 or Society of St. Vincent de Paul .
Condolences may be made at www.greenefuneralhome.net