Jeffrey "Jeff" Roy Schroder was born in West Union, Iowa on March 20, 1955, to Harry and Gertrude (Lauer) Schroder. He died on June 20, 2025, at the age of 70, after a courageous battle with cancer. Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife Gwen, two daughters Alison (Mitchell) Stewart and Emily (Lane) Sturtz, four grandchildren Remy, Isla, Bodey, and Blythe, two sisters Kathy Meyer and Carol (Roger) Robinson, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved mom Gertrude Lauer Schroder, dad Harry Schroder, brother-in-law John Meyer, and mother and father-in-law Marvin and Ferne Wessels.

Dad had a deep Christian faith and was completely devoted to his family. He was so proud to be Mom's husband and Alison and Emily's dad, but he was most excited about being Papa to Remy, Isla, Bodey, and Blythe. A private person, Dad valued meaningful relationships with a few very important friends. As he prepared for the end of his life, he received many visitors and wanted to be sure his friends knew about God's love and grace.

Dad graduated from West Union High School in 1973. He then went on to attend and graduate from Wartburg College where he met his one and only, Gwen Wessels. They were married on April 8, 1978, at the First Reformed Church in Buffalo Center, Iowa and then moved to Florida, where Dad sold group life insurance and Mom taught school. Dad's mom passed away shortly after their move. She meant so much to him and it made Mom and Dad realize they wanted to be closer to family. They moved to Slayton, Minnesota, where they farmed and opened Schroder Jewelry. During this time, they welcomed daughters Alison and Emily and made many lifelong friends. In 1991, Dad and Mom went into the trucking business with Mom's brother, which brought them to Indianola where Dad ran JCA Express. Dad had found his place in the trucking industry and from there went on to work at McKenna Truck Center as Vice President of Fixed Operations and later, General Manager. This was Dad's favorite job, and he would go to work every day in a starched button-down shirt, khaki pants, braided leather belt, and brown leather loafers with a little tassel on top. He looked so sharp. After McKenna was sold, for his last act, Dad founded Iowa Truck and Trailer, to great success. When he received his cancer diagnosis in August of 2020, he decided it was finally time to take a break, and he retired at the end of that year.

Although Dad was always working (he entered the workforce at the age of 14 mowing lawns, painting gas meters, and showing movies in the local theater), he also had a lot of fun hobbies. He could build an engine from scratch, fix anything (and improve it), and loved shooting and hunting. Recently he and Blythe carved a wooden tulip in the garage, he and Bodey shot flaming arrows in a field, he helped Emily find the perfect first car for Remy, and he and Isla took a Benche ride to A&W for ice cream in between board games (something they loved to do together). Over the years, he enjoyed several great fishing trips to Canada, many four-wheeling trips out West, and a hunting weekend in Southern Iowa each fall.

During retirement, Dad enjoyed traveling with his best friend, Mom. They drove Route 66, visited the National Parks in southern Utah, and hiked Antelope Canyon in Arizona. There was a trip to Europe last summer, and an Alaskan cruise the year before; but Dad was probably happiest at home in his routine, so he could attend church on Sundays, have coffee with Mom on the deck, listen to music too loud on his sound system (something truly only he knows how to operate), mow the yard and fiddle in his garage, take drives to find some open road, and watch his grandkids' activities.

Dad always had lots of stories to share, a great sense of humor, and a laugh we will never forget. Dad is so loved and will be missed so much.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 26, 2025 at Overton Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 27, 2025 at Smith's Chapel on Simpson College Campus, 701 N C Street in Indianola. Dad was a car lover and collector. If you are so inclined (and it's a clear day), send Dad off in style and drive your favorite wheels. Inurnment will follow in the Indianola I.O.O.F. Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (because it bothered Dad so much to think about a child going through the discomfort of cancer treatments).