Gary Schroeder Dies at 75

December 29, 2010  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Obituaries on December 30, 2010

Longtime furniture executive Gary Keith Schroeder of Glendale, Ariz., died last week at age 75 at Banner Hospital in Phoenix.

After graduating from Susquehanna University, where he played football under Alonzo Stagg, in 1957, Schroeder started working for Pittsburgh, Pa.-based Joseph Horne Co. as a sales rep. He later moved to Monroe, Mich., where he served 15 years as executive vice president of sales and marketing for La-Z-Boy Chair Co.

At La-Z-Boy, he helped make La-Z-Boy a household name and attracted the talents of Joe Namath, Don Shula, Jim Backus, Alex Karras and Bo Schem bechler as spokesmen for the company. He served as president of the National American Furniture Manufacturers in 1974 and 1975.

In 1977, Schroeder became executive vice president of Kroehler Furniture Co., Naperville, Ill. In 1981, he and Jerome Schottenstein became partners in the Kroehler Chair Co. located in Newport, Tenn., for several years. He eventually moved to Arizona, working for the Philip Bell Co. and Artesan Home Furnishings.

Schroeder is survived by his wife, brother, nine children and 28 grandchildren.

A memorial service was held Wednesdayat Christ's Church of the Valley in Peoria, Ill. A second memorial service will be held at a later date in Prompton, Pa., where he will be buried. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gary Schroeder Memorial Fund, 8280 E. Gelding, Scottsdale, Ariz. 85260.