Service Details
A memorial service will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1533 Erie St, Racine, WI. at 11:00am, Friday August 23, 2024. Visitation with family will be at the church from 10:00am until the time of service. Private interment will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery Hwy. 32.
Memorial Suggestions
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Racine County or the Racine Friendship Clubhouse.
Racine- Maria T. von Schrader, age 97, passed away peacefully while surrounded by her family at Ascension Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare in Franklin, WI. on February 12, 2024.
Maria was born in Augsburg, Germany on August 23,1926 to Karl August Julius and Maria (nee:) Ruckser) Butz. She was a survivor of World War II and emigrated to the United States following the war, joined in marriage with American GI Wilfred Meyer. They had two sons shortly after, Herb and Dennis.
Maria was later united in a second marriage to Francis U. von Schrader. Maria was preceded in death by her parents Karl and Maria, brothers Hans and Ambrose, husbands Wilfred and Francis, and her son Dennis.
She is survived by her son Herb (Paula) Meyer, grandsons Matthew (Kary) Meyer and Bradley (Elizabeth) Meyer. She is also survived by nieces, nephews, and friends.
Maria often spoke of her desire to “make it to 100 years old.” Despite a willing spirit, she fell just short of that milestone. She did however, accomplish so much in her robust, fiercely independent life. A proud woman, she loved her family unconditionally and will be dearly missed by many.
Maria leaves a legacy known for being a humble, kind, and caring mother, grandmother, wife, aunt, and friend. She worked tirelessly as an advocate for those living with mental illness, promoting equal treatment, greater opportunities, and staunchly defending their needs and rights. She joined other members of the National Alliance on Mentally Ill (NAMI) founding generation providing inspirational leadership and was the catalyst for the Belle City Learning Center in the 1980’s. She was also instrumental in the creation of the Kismit Klub, which she continued to support through the von Schrader Foundation. She was also a steadfast supporter of the National Alliance on Mentally Ill Racine County and the Racine Friendship Clubhouse until her passing.
Maria loved to travel and was fond of cruises. She had the good fortune of traveling on many different ships and visit destinations around the world. Just a few years ago, she was joined by her immediate family on a voyage to Alaska for what would be her final cruise, memories which she continued to share with others as being the best and most memorable of all her travels.
A memorial service will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1533 Erie St, Racine, WI. at 11:00am, Friday August 23, 2024. Visitation with family will be at the church from 10:00am until the time of service. Private interment will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery Hwy. 32.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Racine County or the Racine Friendship Clubhouse.
Joann Haas says
Rest in peace Maria.
Gerhard says
Beloved “Tante Polli”, who took care of Wolfi and me during our Route66 Trip.
I have fond memories of the good times we had.
Miss you
Ursula says
Those we love can never be more than a thought away. For as long as there is memory, they will live forever.
Ingrid Balk-Lintl, Waldmünchen says
Auch im Namen meiner Mutter und Cousine, Anneliese Balk aus Waldmünchen möchten wir der Familie von Maria unsere tiefe Anteilnahme bekunden. Uns verbinden viele schöne und innige Begegnungen mit Maria. Besonders waren ihre Besuche mit hrem Bruder Ambros. Sie besuchten dabei immer wieder Orte ihrer Kindheit am Voithenberg auf. Wir werden uns immer gerne an Sie erinnern.
Mark Stanton says
Rest in peace Aunt Maria. Sincere condolences to Herb, Paula and family.
Anonymous says
Joseph & MaryAnn Cuccio
Christopher Rosin says
I was the last supervisor of the Kismet Club that she founded, and she also pulled some strings with Luann Simpson of NAMI (another program that she helped create), who was close to the former director of Racine Friendship Clubhouse, Lynelle Saunders; the members actually voted me in during my second interview. Maria continued to support RFC, and we had a close relationship enough for calls and thank you notes for the soda, pudding, candy and other goodies that she routinely treated our people to. She sometimes would donate $100 for a pizza party, and she was always wanting to ensure the funds went directly to the people. She even was a guest speaker about her experiences in WWII, as well as her mental health advocacy for her late son, Dennis. She told me that while she was very grateful for the way she lived now, if she had to go live in a room somewhere, she could do it, because she knew how to survive! She did tell me she was determined to be 100; it’s like the saying, “Shoot for the moon, and if you miss you’ll be among the stars.” She had the spirit of a young person, often smiling and giggling. She made me feel cared for, and she was encouraging. I remember seeing her sometimes at Racine Symphony Orchestra. She was supportive when I left for my position with Racine County, telling me the most important thing was to be happy. We talked about making plans when I wrote a book for us to go to lunch before the pandemic. I went to her memorial on what would have been her 98th birthday and met her family, including the grandson she told me about who was passionate about his German heritage and brewing. His words brought me to tears, and her loss was one that had me heaving, crying. Her life made a difference in the world and I would have had a totally different life without her. I felt such a peaceful feeling at her final mass, and had a glass of champagne at Racine Country Club afterwards to toast to her celebration of life. She will be in my heart forever and the people I continue to serve in the mental health field, some who went to Kismet and knew Dennis, and touched by Maria’s legacy of love.
Christopher Rosin