Kenneth Schrader

Kenneth Dale Schrader, 96, of Black Hawk County, Iowa, passed away peacefully on December 21, 2024, surrounded by family.

Born on August 23, 1928, Kenneth grew up near the same patch of Iowa soil where he would spend nearly a quarter century planting, building and loving. A lifelong carpenter and farmer, Kenneth believed that love was best shown with calloused hands, steady work and things that lasted. He rarely said, “I love you,” but instead said it with every house he built, every kitchen he remodeled and every meal made from the livestock he raised and the family garden.

After a not so chance meeting at the Noteboom family farm, Kenny traveled to the Netherlands to marry his “little Dutch girl” sweetheart, Betty (Noteboom), and together they raised three children on the family farm. His love for Betty endured through 59 years of marriage. Kenny loved his family, good food, ice cream and Iowa Hawkeye basketball.

Over the decades, Kenny built and remodeled numerous homes and worked well into his 80s. At one point, he was remodeling apartments at a retirement community for people who were 15 years younger than him.

Kenny is survived by his wife, Betty, and children Catharina, Curtis and Christopher.

A visitation celebration of Kenneth’s life will be held at the Locke Funeral at Tower Park, 4140 Kimball Ave., Waterloo, on May 17, 2025, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Interment will occur at a later date in Orange Township, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you build something–no matter how small–for someone you love. Kenny would’ve liked that.