Date of Birth: February 15, 1957
Date of Death: August 13, 2023
Thomas H. Schroeder passed at home into the arms of Jesus on August 13th surrounded by his family. He was born in Passaic, New Jersey. His family moved to Phoenix in 1960. While growing up in Arizona, he attended West High School. In 1974, he enlisted in the US Navy, where he also completed his high school diploma. After graduating from bootcamp in San Diego, California, he was stationed in Charleston, South Carolina on the USS Orion submarine tender. Upon his honorable discharge, he moved back to Phoenix where he met and married his wife, Colleen. They have four children, and two grandchildren. As their family grew, he joined the Arizona National Guard (1981-1984), later the US Naval Reserves (1985) in a Seabees Unit, and proudly retired from the Navy after 20 years of service in 1998. He provided for his family by working at Bell Atlantic Leasing, GTE Data Services, and Arizona Office Technology. Tom could light up a room with his humor and is especially known for embarrassing his children with his “Dad Jokes”. During sleepovers with his grand babies, Tom would get on the floor to create castles with blocks. Tom was an avid sports fan following the Arizona Cardinals, Diamondbacks, and Phoenix Suns. Tom loved music especially Christian rock. His wife Colleen recalls they would play the game “Name That Tune”, with Tom always winning. Tom is survived by his spouse, Colleen, of 39 years, and his children; Courtney Giroux (Jon), Joshua (10), and Aria (6), Tiffany Hucko (Shawn), Jordan and Taylor Schroeder, his faithful yellow Labrador, Gracie, and his sisters Lynda Everett (Jerry) and Joyce Hart. Predeceased by his father Henry Schroeder (1986), his mother June Schroeder (2011), and his sister Catherine Micale (2020).
Service Information
A Memorial Service will be held at: Open Door Fellowship Church 8301 North 19th Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85021 September 9th at 2pm He will be laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona. His ashes will be Interned by a military Honor Guard ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona on November 10th, 2023, at 10am.