Florence Schroeder

- Florence L. Schroeder, 93, passed away peacefully, Friday, November 4, 2016, at Bee Hive Homes in Missoula. She was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1923, the 3rd child in a family of 7 born to Peter and Harriet Buch. Florence had a love of art, singing and language. She attended Northwestern University and The Art Institute of Chicago. She met the love of her life, Charles F. Schroeder, a Patent Attorney in Chicago, in 1947, married for 57 years, and had 3 daughters, Susan, Kathy and Becky.
They moved to Northwest Ohio, where Charles practiced as corporate patent attorney for the major glass companies. Florence and Charles were also active in Washington D.C., where they spent a great deal of time while Charles worked with the Patent Office, and practiced patent cases before the Supreme Court. Florence was a homemaker and active in community activities and philanthropic organizations all her life, particularly assisting Charles in his work with inventions, as well as the founding of the Inventors Hall of Fame. They traveled all over the world, due to his work with international patents and corporate invention, often times bringing along and exposing their daughters to new ideas and educational opportunities.
Florence was a great believer in educational opportunities for children, and was very active in school board and the education of her daughters. She often said she had 16 degrees in the family, because of her support of educational opportunities for all of her family. She and Charles came from large families in the Chicago area, and loved spending time for many years, on family outings and holidays in Chicago with their daughters, and with sisters and brothers and their many nieces and nephews. She also loved gardening and design, and was very active in her local community garden clubs in Ohio. After Charles died in 2005, she continued to love spending time with her daughter Becky and her husband Jim, and grandson's William and Jonathan in Ohio. In 2008, Florence moved to Missoula to be near her daughter, Dr. Kathy Roth (Dr. George Roth). She resided in Missoula in her last few years under the great care at Bee Hive Homes.
Florence is survived by her sister Adele Donato, of San Clemente, Calif., her 3 daughters, Drs. Susan (Jeff) LaVoy, of Tyler, Texas; Drs. Kathy (George) Roth, of Missoula, MT; Rebecca (Jim) Perry of Port Clinton, Ohio; Grandchildren, Nicole LaVoy, Drs. Eric (Trang) LaVoy, William Perry, Jonathan Perry; Nieces and Nephews, Mick (Sue) Mickolay; Jim Mickolay; Yvonne (Bob) Smith; Gloria Smith; Diane (Don) Bovino; Tina (Dr. Tom) Swingler; and many great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and extended family members.
The family wants to thank Bee Hive Homes and Hospice of Missoula for their great care of Florence, particularly Erin, Ty, Jeff, Shelby, Helen, Angie and the other wonderful caregivers, and friends she made while there. Cremation was under care of Garden City Funeral Home & Crematory. A celebration of her life will be planned for the Spring of 2017 with family members and friends.