William Schroeder

Bill Schroeder, 85, of Paducah, KY passed away at 4:22 p.m. Saturday, May 13, 2017 at his residence. Bill was a member of the former Mizpah Presbyterian Church. Bill attended Brazelton Junior High, and was a 1950 graduate of Paducah Tilghman High School. He attended Paducah Junior College and then was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Bill founded Schroeder Publishing Company in 1969, and doing business as Collector Books in the basement of his home, Bill produced a best selling book in the field of antiques, "One Thousand Fruit Jars with Current Value". Since then Schroeder Publishing has become a leader in the field of antiques. He remained Founder and CEO until his retirement in 2012.

In 1984 he and his wife, Meredith founded the American Quilter's Society. A membership organization, including The American Quilter Magazine, an annual quilt show and the promise of a quilt museum. The first AQS Quilt show was in 1985 in Paducah, KY. In April of 1991, the non-profit Museum of the American Quilter's Society was built and dedicated to Today's Quilter, later congress voted to rename the museum as The National Quilt Museum of the United States.

Bill envisioned the flood wall murals and contacted many local business leaders and friends who donated to make the flood wall project a success. Locating a renowned muralist, Robert Dafford, made this project complete. The Expo Center adjacent to the Julian Carroll Convention Center is named in honor of the Schroeders. Community leaders have lauded Bill and Meredith Schroeder for their contributions to the area. Bill has been honored with the Duke of Paducah, Kentucky Colonel and the Rotary Club, Paul Harris Fellowship Award. Bill has served on several boards and the Paducah Bank Holding Company which he helped co-found.

His greatest love was for his family, hunting, fishing and Paducah.

Surviving is his wife of 63 years, Meredith Carnahan Schroeder; one daughter, Lynn Loyd and husband, Rick Loyd of Paducah, KY; two sons, Billy and wife, Julie Schroeder and Kenny and wife, Heather Schroeder both of Paducah, KY; eight grandchildren, Brett Loyd , Louisville KY, Leigh Loyd, Nashville, TN, Whitney Schroeder (Brandon) Ladd, Paducah, KY, Courtney Schroeder (James) Mitchell. Paducah, KY, Bill E. (Tori) Schroeder, Paducah, KY, Olivia Schroeder and fiance, Matthew Burgmaier, Lexington, KY, Tanner Schroeder and Daniel Schroeder both of Paducah, KY; four great-grandchildren, Kaylee Jones, Maxson Mitchell, Maybrie Mitchell and Manning Mitchell; sister-in-law, Dean Lynch and husband Charley Lynch of Calvert City, KY; several nieces and nephews.

Preceding in death by parents, Lee & Helen Hornbrook Schroeder and one brother, Richard Lee Schroeder.

Services will be held at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at the Heartland Worship Center with Dr. John Wood officiating. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 from 2:00 p.m. until service time of 6:00 p.m. at Heartland Worship Center. Burial will be private at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.

Expression of sympathy may be made to The National Quilt Museum, 215 Jefferson Street, Paducah, KY 42001

Arrangements made by Milner & Orr Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Paducah.