Otto Schroeder

Call to Order Flowers by Phone 1-888-579-7953 Code: 2001730P Otto “Babe” Nicolas Schroeder was born October 3, 1920 and departed this life April 16, 2014. Mr. Schroeder was born on his fathers homestead to Mart and Charlotte (Toppendeck) Schroeder Southwest of Levant, KS. The family moved to Colby KS in 1944. Babe then cared for his father and mother until their deaths. Babe worked on the farm all of his young life, working with his father and brothers. He loved farming and in later years invested in several quarters of land. He kept a keen interest in the farming and crops until his death. Babe moved to Denver, CO in 1960, he and his brother Ed bought Race Court Fertilizer where they worked together until Ed retired and Babe bought out his brother’s interest in the plant. Babe sold natural fertilizer until 1991 when he retired. Natural fertilizer smells bad, but Babe thought it smelled like money, he always came out smelling like a rose. In 1974 Babe and Gale Stone started a bagged fertilizer company known as B and S Fertilizer. They also started a house rental company known as S and S Rentals. Babe accomplished all this with his hard work, hardly ever missing a days work. He was very frugal with his money and made very wise investments. Although he loved to gamble a bit as he got older. and he always seemed to win. Since he was financially in great shape he had as much fun spending as he did making money. One of his favorite saying was count your pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves. Babe married Rachel Powell Keck in 1959. They were divorced. In 1961 he married Emilee Frodin Thompson Taylor and helped her raise three children until they were divorced in 1977. He paid her a fortune in alimony. On March 3, 1992 he and Edith Powell Kersenbrock were married at Alice, Texas. Edith was from McAllen, Texas. He met her at his first wife’s funeral. The love bug got him again. After their marriage they would live 6 months in Texas and 6 months in Colorado. In 2004 they bought a house in Little Rock, Arkansas, so Edith could be close to her family. Later they sold their home and moved into assisted living. In 2013 they moved into a rest home. Otto joined the St. Thomas Lodge in 1959 he was a life member. He was a member of the 32nd degree in the Scottish Rights Colorado Consistory and El Jebel shrine since 1960. He was also a life member of the Eagles Lodge #3504. Preceding him in death were his parents, sisters, Minnie, Anna and Martha. His brothers William, Emil, Edward, Leon, Homer, Victor Schroeder and Walter Merkling. Survivors include his wife Edith, stepson Dennis (Marlane) Kersenbrock, granddaughter Misty, and great grandchildren Sarah and Hamelton Hill of Little Rock, Arkansas. Several nieces and nephews. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.