Dean Schroeder

Dean Howard Schroeder of Madison passed away at home on December 28, 2024 at age 75. He was born in Berwyn, Illinois on November 8, 1949 to Paul Hiller Schroeder and Betty (Soule) Schroeder. The family, including older brothers Paul Jr. and Steve, moved to Burlington, Wisconsin when he was a boy. Dean followed in his father’s footsteps, attending prep school at Phillips Andover Academy before spending one year at U.W. Madison during which he was the drummer for the blues band The Tayles.

He transferred to Tufts University in Massachusetts, traveling to the University of Tübingen in Germany for a year abroad. When he returned, he met Carol “Orange” (Ehrlich) Schroeder. After her year abroad in Denmark, they moved to Madison so that she could study Danish literature while he worked for his father’s packaging machinery business. They married in 1973, and celebrated their 50th anniversary last year.

Dean joined Orange at Orange Tree Imports a year after she opened the store. He took charge of the kitchenware department, and together they built the award-winning business that has been a cornerstone of the Madison community on Monroe Street for five decades.

Their children Erik and Katrina were born in the early 1980s. Erik and his wife Nina O’Keefe are the parents of Calvin (4) and Zoé (2). Katrina Smith and her husband Alex Smith are the parents of Gabby (7) and Thea (3). His grandchildren were a constant source of joy, made all the more special by the fact that three of them were born in the years after he survived a near-fatal cardiac arrest in 2020. He was grateful to know and share his love with all four of them.

Dean’s passions included biking and running, which he shared with his children and a circle of devoted friends. He took Erik and Katrina on week-long tandem bicycle trips and crossed several marathon finish lines with them. Dean regularly biked, ran and walked with his buddies Greg, Jay, Jim, John, Pete and Wade. They supported him during his recovery from the cardiac arrest, and throughout his cancer treatment. He could not have asked for a better group of friends.

Music, especially oldies, Cape Breton folk music, classical music, and opera, gave Dean’s life special meaning. He was passionate about the works of Handel, and in 2013 he and Orange co-founded the annual Handel Aria Competition, which has grown into an international event fostering the careers of emerging singers. He played piano, and sang in several choirs, including that of the Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society, where he was an active member for almost 50 years. Time spent traveling and in nature, especially the Chicago Botanic Garden and local and national parks, brought him joy. 

Special thanks to Dr. Glen Liu, Carbone Cancer Center, whose personal care meant so much to Dean. The family is also grateful to his many health care providers at St. Mary’s Hospital, U.W. Health, and Agrace Hospice. 

A celebration of his life is planned for January 19th, 2025 at First Unitarian Society, 900 University Bay Dr, Madison, WI 53705, from 2-3 pm. Here is the livestream link to view the service: https://www.youtube.com/live/XEqDLD-W4a0?feature=share&themeRefresh=1

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Madison Parks Foundation, the Nature Conservancy of Wisconsin, or WORT Community Radio.

Please share your memories of Dean at CressFuneralService.com