John H. Schroeder, 90, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, April 4, 2011.

He was a loving, humble and generous husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He served as an inspiration to many with whom he worked.

John was born September 26, 1920, in Evansville, the son of J. Henry and Clara Schroeder. He graduated from Bosse High School in 1938 and Wabash College in 1942, Phi Beta Kappa. He received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School with distinction in 1948.

John served in the United States Army for four years during World War II in Great Britain and was discharged with the rank of Captain.

John was a pioneer in the plastics industry. He was instrumental in its rapid growth, starting one of the first plastic extrusion companies in the U.S., Crescent Plastics, Inc. located in Evansville. From this business followed the Evansville-based companies Cresline Plastic Pipe Co., Inc., Wabash Plastics, Inc., Cresline-West, Inc, and Cresline -Northwest, LLC, in which he served as chairman.

John H. had long reaching community service. He served as President of many boards, including United Way of Southwestern Indiana, Vanderburgh County Tuberculosis Association, Vanderburgh County Society for Crippled Children and Adults, Goodwill Industries and the Rotary Club. He also served on the boards of the Evansville Chamber of Commerce, Evansville Museum of Arts and Sciences, Welborn Baptist Hospital, Old National Bancorp, Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Co., and the Society of Plastics Industry. Governor Robert Orr named him to the Indiana Secondary Market for Educational Loans.

He also served on the Board of Trustees of the University of Evansville, three years as Chairman, and the Wabash College Board of Trustees. He was awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Wabash College and the University of Evansville.

John H. Schroeder also received numerous honorary awards including The Distinguished Citizens Award from the Buffalo Trace Council, the Rotary Club of Evansville Paul Harris Fellow Award, the Rotary Civic Award, the Wabash College Outstanding Alumni of Merit Award, and from the University of Evansville the Delta Sigma Pi Fraternity Businessman of the Year Award and the University Medal of Honor. He was also a member of the Indiana Academy. John H. and Ginny Schroeder received the Governor's Arts Award for continuing support of the Arts in Indiana. He and Ginny were also recognized by the Evansville Philharmonic, the Evansville Arts Council and the Evansville YWCA.

The Easter Seals awarded John H. the National Edgar Allen Founders Society Award. He was elected to the Evansville Business Hall of Fame, recognizing his many years of service to not only these organizations which he supported in the Evansville area, but also his leadership in his family of companies.

The University of Evansville acknowledged his support by naming first a dormitory after John H. and later naming their business school the Schroeder Family School of Business.

Wabash College named its career center after John H. in recognition of his support for his alma mater. Recently Wabash established the John H. Schroeder Chair in Economics, his major at Wabash.

The Evansville Museum of Arts and Sciences also recognized his support, as well as the support of his wife, Ginny. Among the many projects was the gallery, named the Crescent Gallery in recognitions of his contributions.

Just this past year John H. was awarded membership in the inaugural class of the EVSC Foundation Hall of Fame which recognizes distinguished graduates of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation.

John H. was a member of Eastminister Presbyterian Church. He served as an Elder and Trustee of Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church prior to its merger with Eastminister.

He was also a member of the Evansville Country Club and Evansville Kennel Club.

His first wife, Jeanne Crisp Schroeder, passed away in 1982.

He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Virginia Graves Schroeder, and two sons, John C. Schroeder (Diane) of Evansville and Richard A. Schroeder (Patrice) of Newburgh, and his sister, Ruth Bromm of Evansville.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Scott Schroeder (Leigh) of Newburgh, Susan Fuller (Joel) of Washington, D.C., Maribeth Schroeder of Philadelphia, and Lindsey and David Schroeder of Newburgh. He is also survived by great-granddaughters, Lucy and Ellie Schroeder, and great-grandson, Jonah Fuller.

John H. is also survived by his stepchildren, Robert Graves (Lindsay) of Columbus, OH, Catherine Turner, of Richmond, IN, Sarah Cobb (Pete) of Montgomery, AL, Melissa Mattingly (Randy) of Henderson, KY, and grandchildren, John Graves (Amy), Sarah Graves, Drew Sullivan, Hoke Sullivan, Erin Mattingly, and William Mattingly.

Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 8, 2011, at the University of Evansville Neu Chapel, officiated by Dr. Dennis Davenport, with entombment in Oak Hill Cemetery. Friends may visit Thursday from 3:00 to 7:00 pm at Alexander East Chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made to the University of Evansville, 1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, In, 47714; Wabash College, PO Box 352, Crawfordsville, In, 47933; Evansville Philharmonic, PO Box 84, Evansville, IN 47701; Evansville Museum, 411 SE Riverside Drive, Evansville, In 47713; or Evansville Rehabilitation Center, 3701 Bellemeade Avenue, Evansville, In 47714.

April 06, 2011
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Duane Busby, Evansville, Indiana

April 06, 2011
You will be in our prayers and thoughts Schoeder family as you go through this sad journey. It has been a long time (20 years) since I last saw John H. when I worked at Crescent Plastics. I would like to thank him for giving a new high school graduate an opportunity of a life time (a full-time job).
Tamara (Niehaus)Sipf, Noblesville, Indiana

April 06, 2011
What a generous man. You will be missed here on earth, but you are surely in Heaven enjoying God's bounty.
Bob & Crystal Phillips, Evansville, Indiana

April 06, 2011
To Schroeder Family: I worked at Crescent Plastics from 1960-May 1963 and always respected Mr. Schroeder in his business and also his tremendous contribution to the community and especially UE. A great example to all.
Julia Wood, Evansville, Indiana

April 06, 2011
You have my deepest sympathy in the passing of John H. As I worked at Crescent Plastics (1976-79) it never ceased to amaze me to what a caring and generous person he was. God blessed you as a family for such a fine man.
Lana Marvel, Poseyville, Indiana

April 07, 2011
John C. and family, you are in our prayers. As members of the Wabash Plastics family, we have had many opportunities over the years to get to know and respect John H. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten. His legacy lives on in so many things and the lives that he has touched.
David & Terri Haggard, Evansville, Indiana

April 07, 2011
John Schroeder was always such a gentleman in my dealings with him on the parts supplied by his companies. My condolences to John Jr. and the Schroeder family.
Bud Cooksey, Sun City Center, Florida

April 07, 2011
"May GOD Bless"
Brenda Gross

April 07, 2011
Girl Scouts of Southwest Indiana sends sincerest condolences to Virginia and all of the Schroeder family. John and Virginia have been loyal supporters of Girl Scouts for many years, and were among the first members of our Daisy Donor group. We will always appreciate and remember Johns' enthusiasm for, and interest in, the work of our council; and we treasure the memory of his friendship and support.
Girl Scouts of Southwest Indiana, Evansville, Indiana

April 08, 2011
John C. you and your family are in my prayers. I will always remember your father, he will be missed by many. I think often of my days working at Wabash and my chit chats I had with Dad,(he told me I could call him dad). I have nothing but respect for him, he was good to all of us that worked there. He really did care about us. May God bless you and your family.
Punkin (Margaret) Brown, Cadiz, Kentucky

April 12, 2011
John C. and family, you are in my prayers. I think John H. Schroeder was amazingly humble and selfless yet a giant in leadership and philanthropy. I had great admiration for him. I prayed for God to give us more people like him and to replenish you when you fall short.
Ishmael Manyonga