A memorial service for RufusSchroeder, 74, lifetime resident of Crowley and Otero counties, will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Ordway Assembly of God Church.
Mr. Schroeder died Jan. 14, 2006, at his home in Rocky Ford.
He was born May 2, 1931, to Herbert and Hermina (Nesselhuf) Schroeder at Rocky Ford. He attended Numa and Ordway schools, graduating in 1950. He worked in construction before joining the Army in 1952 serving in Korea in the Signal Corps and Combat Engineers.
He married Joy Geeseka on Feb. 14, 1953, at San Luis Obispo, Calif. They divorced in 1980. He married Bonnie (Wilcox) Page on July 19, 1982, at Raton, N.M.
After his return from Korea in 1954, he attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins until returning to the family farm in 1957.
In 1961, he and his father started H&R Farm Equipment while continuing the family farming and feedlot operations. He served on the Numa School Board in the 1960s and, after the irrigation water was sold in Crowley County, served on the Proxy Committee.
He was a pilot and enjoyed flying his own plane for business trips as well as pleasure. In 1977 he moved H&R Farm Equipment to Rocky Ford and changed the business to H&R Tire & Auto.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s he owned and operated La Junta Conoco and Rufus Muffler in La Junta. After closing the service station he did custom hay baling for several years.
He loved farming and when he moved to town, continued on a smaller scale with a garden that covered his back yard. In later years, ever interested in learning new technology, he connected to the Internet, surfing Web sites for information and e-mailing friends.
He is survived by his wife Bonnie of the home; daughter Teresa (Mike) Wadleigh of Cheraw, sons Craig Schroeder, Carl Schroeder of Ordway and Bill (Kim) Schroeder, all of Rocky Ford; step-children Lee Page of Kansas, Tim Page of Rocky Ford, Doug Page of Montana and Falisa Page of Rocky Ford; grandchildren Tim Weiss, Heather Wadleigh, Andrew Schroeder, Luke Schroeder, Mark Schroeder; 11 step-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; sister Bonnie (Clark) Craig of Illinois, niece and nephew and numerous friends.
The family requests no flowers. In keeping with Mr. Schroeder's tradition of helping others, those wishing to do so may make contributions to diabetes research, Arkansas Valley Pregnancy Center, or charity of one's choice.
Memorial page can be viewed at www.trustinghimwebdesign.com/rufus
Johnson Romero Funeral Home and Grooms Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
A memorial service for RufusSchroeder, 74, lifetime resident of Crowley and Otero counties, will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Ordway Assembly of God Church.
Mr. Schroeder died Jan. 14, 2006, at his home in Rocky Ford.
He was born May 2, 1931, to Herbert and Hermina (Nesselhuf) Schroeder at Rocky Ford. He attended Numa and Ordway schools, graduating in 1950. He worked in construction before joining the Army in 1952 serving in Korea in the Signal Corps and Combat Engineers.
He married Joy Geeseka on Feb. 14, 1953, at San Luis Obispo, Calif. They divorced in 1980. He married Bonnie (Wilcox) Page on July 19, 1982, at Raton, N.M.
After his return from Korea in 1954, he attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins until returning to the family farm in 1957.
In 1961, he and his father started H&R Farm Equipment while continuing the family farming and feedlot operations. He served on the Numa School Board in the 1960s and, after the irrigation water was sold in Crowley County, served on the Proxy Committee.
He was a pilot and enjoyed flying his own plane for business trips as well as pleasure. In 1977 he moved H&R Farm Equipment to Rocky Ford and changed the business to H&R Tire & Auto.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s he owned and operated La Junta Conoco and Rufus Muffler in La Junta. After closing the service station he did custom hay baling for several years.
He loved farming and when he moved to town, continued on a smaller scale with a garden that covered his back yard. In later years, ever interested in learning new technology, he connected to the Internet, surfing Web sites for information and e-mailing friends.
He is survived by his wife Bonnie of the home; daughter Teresa (Mike) Wadleigh of Cheraw, sons Craig Schroeder, Carl Schroeder of Ordway and Bill (Kim) Schroeder, all of Rocky Ford; step-children Lee Page of Kansas, Tim Page of Rocky Ford, Doug Page of Montana and Falisa Page of Rocky Ford; grandchildren Tim Weiss, Heather Wadleigh, Andrew Schroeder, Luke Schroeder, Mark Schroeder; 11 step-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; sister Bonnie (Clark) Craig of Illinois, niece and nephew and numerous friends.
The family requests no flowers. In keeping with Mr. Schroeder's tradition of helping others, those wishing to do so may make contributions to diabetes research, Arkansas Valley Pregnancy Center, or charity of one's choice.
Memorial page can be viewed at www.trustinghimwebdesign.com/rufus
Johnson Romero Funeral Home and Grooms Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
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