Alumni

Lodema Schroder
The Caledonia Education Foundation is pleased to honor Lodema (Schnurr) Schroder as its 2009 Honored Alumnus for her lifetime of service and inspiration to her community.
"Lodema may very well be Caledonia's oldest living graduate. She glows with a vibrancy that motivates and inspires those around her", says Jill Harrison, Executive Director of the Foundation. "Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren still live in this community and attend Caledonia Schools. They refer to her as 'our hero' and it is easy to see why. It is a pleasure and privilege to honor her."
Lodema attended Duncan Lake Country School for her kindergarten through 8th grade years. She had to pay tuition her first two years at Caledonia High School because she did not live in the district. A graduate of Caledonia High School in 1931, Schroder has lived in the same house in the Village of Caledonia for the past seventy-five years.
Mrs. Schroder has spent her entire life volunteering and serving in the Caledonia community. She has been active in the life of the Caledonia library, where she served previously on the board as both secretary and treasurer. She has been a member of the Caledonia Women's Club for sixty years. She has worked to continue the tradition of the Senior Girls Tea, road cleanup, and other activities. She has served with the Santa Claus Girls for the past twenty-five years. Lodema is a member at Caledonia United Methodist Church and is a member of the United Methodist Women, who have honored her as Woman of the Year.
Lodema has seen many changes in Caledonia. The first is the enormous growth in population over the years. She has also seen a growth in businesses from farms, lumberyard, saw mill, and The Carillon Lodema Schroder Named 2009 CEF Honored Alumnus Fall 2009 The Official Newsletter of the Caledonia Education Foundation elevator to everything that is here today. The high school she attended has been torn down, and she has seen two new high schools replace it, in addition to new elementary and middle schools.
Lodema was married for 72 years to George Schroder, also a Caledonia graduate. She has two children, Larry (Barb) Schroder and Carol (Joe) Ogg, four grandchildren, and six great-grands.
Honored Alumni - Past Recipients
- 2012 Kenneth Gackler
- 2011 Hendricka “Henny” Stauffer
- 2010 David Clark
- 2009 Lodema Schroder
- 2008 Ret. Lt. Col. Richard Doezema USMC (Ret.)
- 2007 Bruce Ullrey
- 2006 Alan & Jackie Steeby
- 2005 John Finkbeiner
- 2004 Sharon Weaver
- 2003 Ken Vanbree
- 2002 Willard Stawski
- 2001 Kristen Emerson
- 2000 Rear Admiral Richard P Terpsta
- 1999 Harold Gless
- 1998 Lt. Gov. and Mrs. Richard Posthumus