Bernard "Bernie" Dean Schroeder, 87, of Manistee passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, October 8, 2023. He was born, January 14, 1936, to parents Otto and Iris Schroeder of Arcadia.

He enjoyed the smalltown life and was taught early how a tight community is a benefit to everyone. He often told stories of how many close relationships and memories he had with people from Arcadia and the numerous life lessons he had learned from all of them.

He graduated from Arcadia High School in 1954, and left for the big city soon after. Enrolling at Michigan State University. During this time, he worked with on campus dining services at MSU. He graduated from Michigan State in 1958. He returned to Arcadia and began working at the local A & P Food Store part time.

In 1958, the radio station was beginning to take off in Manistee. He soon found a home there. His intimate knowledge of the area and a seemingly intrinsic awareness of what information the surrounding community needed to start their day, he spoke to the Manistee area's listeners nearly every morning, for 51 years!

His smalltown roots showed through again, when he met the woman, he described as the "farmer's daughter". He was captivated by her red curly hair and freckles. He loved Dawn and her daughter, Dorothy, from the start. Soon they were married, he moved to Manistee, and not long after welcomed their daughter, Julie.

Many years of family, friends, adventures, and quiet hobbies followed. They traveled across the country doing all sorts of things, hunting, fishing, and sightseeing. He had so much knowledge from growing up, and he shared this with his family. When his daughters went on to have daughters of their own, he continued teaching and sharing with his growing family.

While with the radio station, he witnessed and shared with others, all the happenings of the community. Whether it was the schools' lunch menu, a birthday greeting, or local/national news happening, he spoke it to his listeners with the same clarity and reverence; he knew the value that the community placed on those broadcasts.

He attended meetings and gatherings of all sorts. It was resolved by the Mayor of Manistee, that he had likely attended over 1,000 City Council meetings, and he was awarded a day of celebration for the dedication he had shown in his years of service. December 18, 1999 was celebrated throughout Manistee, as Bernie Schroeder Day!

He gave those at home a play-by-play experience of the local festivals and parades. He attended and later reported on the demolition of the old and the grand openings of the new.  He reported on elections and inaugurations, at every level of government. He met and interviewed people from all over, national recording artists, local business owners, and the youngest children showing their 4-H animals at the county fair

He was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Iris Schroeder, his wife, Dawn Schroeder, his brother and sister-in-law, Gerald and Joyce (Marilyn) Schroeder

He is survived by his daughters, Dorothy (Steven) Johnson and Julie Schroeder. His four granddaughters, Diane (Lee) Johnson, Connie Sue (Larry) Sawtelle, Sandra (Jordan) Skiera, and Casey (Derek) Harvey. It was his delight to have spent time with his 5 great grandchildren, Abigail Harvey, Jozelynn Skiera, Emberlynn Skiera, Brooklyn Harvey, and Carter Harvey. Also surviving him, his brother's children, Scott (Anne) Schroeder, Vicky (Rick) Schroeder-Blackmar, Alan (Chris) Schroeder, Eric Schroeder, as well as their children.

Bernie, ever the "no muss, no fuss" fella, did not wish to have services after he passed. The family would like to welcome those in the community to share their memories of Bernie, by sending a note thru email, berndean@outlook.com. We also would like to thank those that have reached out to share stories of him, through all these years, it has always meant so much to us to know he impacted the entire community. Afterall, that's where he was from, a small community on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan.

The Herbert Funeral Home of Manistee is in charge of funeral arrangements.