Born in Elmhurst Hospital to Ray aPicture of Dick Schroedernd Florence Schroeder in March of 1956 Dick can officially say he was born and raised in DuPage County. Dick and his two brothers grew up on 14th Street in Lombard. He attended Sacred Heart school for 1st & 2nd grade. By the time he was done with 2nd grade Christ the King School was built and he attended 3rd through 8th grade at the new school. Dick then went to Montini High School to complete his Catholic education. At Montini he was on the Track & Field & Wrestling teams where he held the shot-put record for 25 years before he was finally beat! In 2010 he was inducted into the Montini Hall of Fame.

His parents were the proud owners of Schroeder’s Hardware Inc. Ray Schroeder opened the 2000 square foot store in 1962 when Dick was 6 years old. Then in early 1976 they moved to their current 17,000 square foot location. Dick spent every free moment moving the store and, if that was not enough, in June he graduated from College of DuPage with his Associates Arts Degree.

Without skipping a beat, 1977 was another “record setting” year! Dick married Cheryl Gustafson June 18th. That same year his father decided to retire and Dick became President of Schroeder’s Ace Hardware at the young age of 21! He would serve as President until the store sold in December of 2019. Dick and Cheryl have been married for 43 years and have five children and three grandchildren.

You would think that his wife, kids, grandchildren, and running the hardware store would have kept him too busy for much else. However, Dick believes that you should be involved in your community to make it a better place to live and has spent his life actively involved in his community.

Dick starts his 24th year as York Township Highway Commissioner in 2020. As Highway Commissioner, he maintains some 68-lane miles of paved roadways in 9 towns keeping them safe for York Township residents.

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE:

Elmhurst Elks Lodge
Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Board of Governors from 2001 to 2013.
Lombard Masonic Lodge
Lombard Moose Lodge
Lombard Rotary
Medinah Shrine Scottish Rite & York Rite
Midwest Hardware Association served as…

Legislation Committee 1992-1995
Board Member 1996-1999
Vice President 2000
President 2001
Past President 2002