18/04/2023
This one is super hard. I was blessed to meet Gary via the phone a few years ago. We talked, a lot, about the future, hunting, finding meaning and our families. He was very open about his battle and was fighting everyday. Please send his family your love during this difficult time. Save me a seat at the table brother!
“Lo, There do I see my Father
Lo, There do I see my Mother and
My Brothers and my Sisters
Lo, There do I see the line of my people back to the begining
Lo, They do call to me
They bid me take my place among them in the halls of Valhalla
Where thine enemies have been vanquished
Where the brave shall live Forever
Nor shall we mourn but rejoice for those that have died the glorious death.”
This one hits close to home. Our hearts are broken for the Schroeder family, our Invisible Wounds Project family, and all of those who knew Gary. Yesterday we lost Gary to su***de. It’s hard to understand, and it’s hard to put into words the feelings that all who knew him have. We search for answers. We look back for clues, and play out the what if’s. PTSD is a terrible thing. It can bear its ugliness even when we think we have a handle on it.
We first came to know Gary back in 2019. Through the years we helped Gary in various ways, and he became more than a client, he became a friend. One of the greatest highlights we have with Gary was in 2021 when we were blessed to award Gary a puppy. Through hard work with his trainer John at Minnesota Canine Consulting, LLC Gary and Glory earned their certification as a team.
Gary always looked for ways to help and serve others, as well as serving God. He was a faithful volunteer unafraid to help wherever he was needed or called.
While the Invisible Wounds Project mourns his loss, we ask for your thoughts and prayers for Gary’s wife Kim (Invisible Wounds Project Board Member) and his sons Ethan, Colby and Jacob. We also ask for prayers to all of the first responders who responded to his death. Many of them personally knew Gary through his work as a former police officer and firefighter.
Arrangements:
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
1549 East Avenue
Zumbrota, MN 55992
Visitation: Sunday, April 23rd from 4-7pm
Service: Monday, April 24th, 10am visitation, 11am service w/ lunch to follow