96-year-old lived his entire life in Palatine

One of the last remaining links to Palatine’s 19th century rural beginnings has died.

Ralph Schroeder was a lifelong resident of Palatine. His father, Henry was the town’s constable, and the grandparents who helped raise him settled in the area as farmers shortly after the Civil War.

Mr. Schroeder passed away on Thursday at the age of 96. His wife, Florence, survives him. In October, they would have been married 75 years.

Over his long life spent entirely in Palatine, his handprint can be found in several prominent organizations.

“He did everything you could possibly do in Palatine,” says Harvey Foster of Palatine.

Mr. Schroeder was a member of the Palatine High School class of 1931, and in 2000 he worked with Foster to organize an all-class “Millennium Reunion” at the school, which dates back to 1875.

“The biggest thing Ralph did for us was tell us stories about how it was,” Foster says, adding that Mr. Schroeder’s father also attended Palatine High School, graduating in 1904.

Their campaign to draw graduates drew more than 1,900 in all. During the homecoming football game, they marched in a parade across the field. Mr. Schroeder walked near the front, with only a few representatives from the 1920s older than he.

That same year, Mr. Schroeder was inducted into Palatine High School’s Wall of Fame for his lifetime of service to the school.

Long before the reunion, Mr. Schroeder helped to convene another reunion of sorts, when he revived the Palatine Concert Band. The band dates back to 1875, but it dissolved during the Great Depression and World War II years.

Mr. Schroeder played trombone in the band, like his father before him. He worked to reinstate the group in 1955, in time for Palatine’s centennial celebration, and drew 18 members.

He stayed on until 1977, long enough to play in the band with his son, Thomas, who also played trombone. Mr. Schroeder stayed involved with the band, serving as its historian until 2000, when the band had about 80 members.

His longest tenure in the village was with the Palatine Lions Club, where he was a member for more than 50 years — including a span of 30 years when he had perfect attendance.

The Lions mission of meeting the humanitarian needs in local communities, fit in with Mr. Schroeder’s commitment to Palatine.

“He firmly believed in community and in helping people less fortunate,” said his daughter, Annette Schoenjohn of Bloomingdale.

In 2005, Mr. Schroeder was honored with the Melvin Jones Fellowship award from Lions International Foundation, for his exemplary service to his club and community. It is the highest award given by the Lions.

Besides his wife and daughter, Mr. Schroeder is survived by his son, Thomas (Freda) and daughter Marsha (Robier) Cheek; as well as four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Visitation begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday until an 11 a.m. funeral service, at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 185 E. Northwest Hwy. in Palatine.