HBW (Bernie) Schroeder

The Rev. Canon H.B.W. (Bernie) Schroeder, aged 78, passed away on August 31, 2025, in Chestertown, MD. He was the son of Mary Driver Schroeder and Hubert Bernard Walter Schroeder. Born on April 1, 1947, he grew up in Muskegon and Kalamazoo, Michigan, graduating from Kalamazoo’s Loy Norrix High School in 1965. He received his B.A. from Michigan State University where he met Carol, whom he married in 1969. In 1971 the U.S. Army sent him (and Carol) to Germany where he learned to aim Pershing Missiles. In 1972 he began his life-long relationship with The Honorable Robert Carr of Michigan by being his manager of U.S. Congressional campaigns in Michigan and Administrative Assistant in the office in Washington, D.C. In 1980 he became the Washington, D.C. Representative for Consumers Energy of Michigan. Later he founded and was President of an energy transmission company. In 2012 he fulfilled a boyhood dream of driving a semi-trailer truck, specializing in crossing the Canadian border for Werner Enterprises. After graduating from Nashotah House Anglican Seminary in Wisconsin he was ordained a priest in 2015, fulfilling a decades-long call to the priesthood. He served two churches in the Diocese of Virginia before moving to the Diocese of Easton on Maryland’s Eastern Shore where he served five years at Christ Episcopal Church, Cambridge. Later, he concurrently served at St. Luke’s Episcopal Parish in Church Hill, MD and St. Andrew’s Chapel in Sudlersville, MD until his death. He was canonized by the Bishop of El Salvador for his work there. He was a talented guitar player and singer, a boat Captain, a small-plane pilot and a lover of classical music and opera. He and his wife loved Mackinac Island, Michigan and visited in September for more than thirty years. He was full of good, quick humor and joie de vivre and his mentoring helped many friends in both politics and the church. He was generous to all whom he met. He is lovingly remembered by his wife of fifty-five years Carol, his son Paul, his daughter-in-law Sarah, grandchildren Zoë, Finn and Mia, niece and nephews Susan, Craig and David and cousins Betty Ann Tindall and Bob Driver. He was pre-deceased by his parents, his brother Jack Seastrom and his cousin Herb Driver. A service of the Holy Eucharist will be held on Saturday October 25, 2025, at 1 pm at Christ Episcopal Church, 601 Church St., Cambridge, MD 21613. Please consider a memorial contribution to Christ Episcopal Church, in lieu of flowers.

HBW (Bernie) Schroeder

April 1, 1947 - August 31, 2025