Darvin E. Schroeder, 91, of Bettendorf, passed away Friday, July 21, 2023, at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 26 (today), at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home, Bettendorf. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will be at Walcott Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Riverbend Food Bank, Asbury United Methodist Church, or to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
Darvin was born on April 12, 1932, in Walcott, and was the first of what would become a family of eight children born to Hugo and Florence (Muhs) Schroeder. In 1936, the family moved from Walcott to rural Bettendorf. Darvin received his early education in Scott County rural schools and graduated at the head of the rural students eighth grade class in June of 1946. He graduated with the Class of 1950 from Davenport Central High School.
He began employment as a laborer at Aluminum Co. of America in the fall of 1950 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in March 1952. He was discharged at the rank of E-4 in March 1956. Darvin then pursued an engineering degree under Veterans Assistance and received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in June 1960 from the University of Iowa. He resumed his career with Alcoa and did graduate work in economics at the University of Texas, Austin. Over the course of his 31 years of service with Alcoa, he was a laborer, furnace operator, industrial engineer, and employment supervisor. Darvin retired on Jan. 1, 1986. On Sept. 21, 1974, Darvin married Mildred Karwath. She passed away in 1989. He later married Kathryn Noble Stucker on Dec. 29, 1991. She passed away in 2017.
Darvin was past president of the Mississippi Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Industrial Engineers, a member of Asbury United Methodist Church, the Alcoa Retirees Club, Plus 60, AARP, the U.S. Gold Association, and was a life member of the University of Iowa Alumni Association. Darvin had many interests, including steam locomotives and railroading, history of the 20th century and the biographies of its notable personalities. He enjoyed the natural world, birds, photography, traveling, gardening, and playing golf.
Those left to honor his memory are his siblings, Marilyn Thiessen of Bettendorf, Ron (Georgie) Schroeder of Bettendorf, Larry (Judith) Schroeder of Iowa City, Donna Miller of Davenport, and Sue Lux of Davenport; his step-children, William (Pat) Stuckers of Cedar Rapids, Carolee (Brian) Samuels of Frankfort, Ill., and Richard Stucker of Providence, R.I.; a step-daughter-in-law, Nancy Stucker of Goshen, Ind.; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and wives, he was preceded in death by a sister, Joyce Jones, a brother in infancy, Bobby, and a step-son, Larry Stucker.
He returns now to Walcott for eternal rest not far from the place of birth so many years ago, and so near to those of the family who have gone before.
Online condolences may be shared with Darvin’s family at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com.
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