Richard David Schroeder

Richard David Schroeder, aged 69, passed away on September 18 after a prolonged journey with brain cancer. He passed as he so often lived, surrounded by his loved ones and their laughter.

Rick is survived by his wife, Diana, his high school sweetheart whom he married in 1979. They had five children – Betsy (Nicki Campbell), 42; Peter (Megan), 40; Jillian (Bill) Lusk, 37; Andrew (Allison Patch), 35; and Bradley (Monica), 33. He cherished his role as “Grandpa Rick” to nine loving grandchildren: Grant, 9; Thompson, 8; Celia, 6; Ruby, 6; Harrison, 5; Evan, 4; Arthur, 2; Lena, 1; and Chloe, eight months.

He is also survived by his siblings Tom (Jacque) Schroeder, MaryBeth (Lynn) Landherr, and Julie (Ted) Schroeder Ranz. He was predeceased by his sister, Kathryn, as well as his parents, Rod and Sue Schroeder.

Rick was born on September 5, 1955, in San Antonio, Texas. He spent most of his childhood in the small town of Prophetstown, Illinois, graduating as valedictorian from Prophetstown High School in 1973. He then went on to attend the University of Notre Dame, graduating summa cum laude in 1977. One of the great joys of his life is that he got to see all five of his children follow suit and become Notre Dame graduates as well. He went on to graduate with high honors from Northwestern University School of Medicine in 1981.

Following an Orthopedic surgery residency in Indianapolis, Indiana, and fellowships in Dallas, Texas, and Baltimore, Maryland, Rick and his growing family moved to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where they lived until his retirement in 2020. There, he joined and helped grow the Western PA Orthopedics and Sports Medicine practice, and provided care to thousands of patients.

Rick was defined by his numerous and deep-seated interests. After retirement, he and Diana moved to Fayetteville, Pennsylvania, where he devoted time to sharing one of his greatest passions, the Civil War, as a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg Battlefield. He became a specialist in the medical history of the Civil War, delivering numerous presentations and speeches and advancing the scholarly thinking around notable battlefield injuries. He relished the community he found within the guides and broader Gettysburg and Penn National community.

Never one for half measures, Rick also immersed himself in fine wine, dining, Notre Dame football, music and, most of all, his family. The man even took leisure seriously, clear to anyone who happened to find him on a back patio with a glass of wine, Jimmy Buffett playing, and a matching Hawaiian print shirt and short combo. If he loved something, he loved it with everything he had, and he loved sharing it with everyone he could.

Friends received at Frank Duca Funeral Home, Westmont Chapel, 1622 Menoher Blvd. on Friday, September 27 from 2-4 PM and 5-7 PM.

A Funeral Service will be held at  10 AM on Saturday, September 28 at Our Mother of Sorrows Church in Johnstown, Very Rev. Mark Begly.

An additional service will take place in Gettysburg at a future, yet to be determined date.
 
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the Seminary Ridge Museum, the American Battlefield Trust and the Gettysburg Foundation.

https://www.seminaryridgemuseum.org/
https://www.battlefields.org/give/save-battlefields
https://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/

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