July 24, 2009
Father Ray Schroering, priest for 60 years, dies July 19
By STEVE HALBIG(Message staff)
Father Raymond Schroering, a priest of the Diocese of Evansville for 60 years, died July 19 in Evansville at the Little Sisters of the Poor. He was 85.
A native of Jasper, Father Schroering was one of three sons of Frank and Mary (Beckman) Schroering who became priests. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-mother, Alice Schroering, brothers, Linus, Cyril and his wife, Bernadette, Father Cletus (a Maryknoll Missionary), Father Francis, a sister, Mary Alice, who died at age six, and two brothers who died in infancy.
Father Schroering is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Dennis and Joan Schroering, another sister-in-law, Monica Schroering, all of Jasper, and many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.
Although Father Schroering retired in 1990, he loved to help out occasionally at Holy Family Church in Jasper, his home parish. He lived at Villa Maria Priest Retirement residence in Evansville from 1990-2009.
For several years before and after he retired, Father Schroering was known as one of the Woodcutters, a group of priests who chopped wood on their day off. It was a chance to combine camaraderie with physical exercise and also a chance to help various charities. They donated about $15,000 that they collected from selling firewood.
Father Ray was quoted in another publication in 1999, “We worked summer, winter, snow or ice. It was good exercise, plus we would let our hair down and pick on one another.”
His last pastorate started in 1981 at St. Wendel Church, Evansville. His first pastorate came in 1955 at St. Mary Church, Daviess County, with a Mission at St. Michael Church there.
After his ordination by Bishop Henry J. Grimmelsman on June 11, 1949 at St. Meinrad, he was assigned as assistant pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Evansville. During that same year, he became an assistant at St. Simon Church in Washington and in 1953 was named an assistant at St. Theresa in Evansville. Through the years he had also been a pastor at St. Raphael Church in Dubois (1957-1963), St. Boniface in Evansville (1963-1970) and St. Mary Church in Washington (1970-1981).
He also served the diocese as an assistant director of the Legion of Mary and as a member of the diocesan school board. He taught at Washington Catholic High School and at Memorial High School in Evansville.
Visitation was to be held July 22 at Pierre Funeral Home in Evansville, where a memorial service was held in the evening.
Funeral services for Father Schroering were to be held July 23 at St. Boniface Church in Evansville, with Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger, priests and deacons of the diocese. Burial was to follow in the priest circle at St. Joseph Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Little Sisters of the Poor, 1236 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, IN 47714. The family wishes to thank the Little Sisters for all of their love and care over the past several months.