Kendra B.

Schroeder

Brunswick — Kendra B. Schroeder, 32, of Brunswick, died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024 at Avera Creighton Hospital in Creighton.

Visitation was held Monday, Feb. 5, 2024 at Home for Funerals Chapel in Norfolk.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024 at the chapel in Norfolk. Pastor Bruce Phillips officiated.

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Brockhaus-Howser-Fillmer Funeral Home in Norfolk was in charge of the arrangements.

Kendra was born on Feb. 15, 1991, to Alois and Gena (Rehling) Vetter. Early on Kendra proved to be both spirited and bright. An early memory of her mother's was Kendra's ability to hear and memorize long passages of children's stories and nursery rhymes by hearing them over and over again. Her grandmother “Homa” was instrumental in her early education as well as her strong will. It was this keen mind and strong personality that made her an excellent teacher for her younger brother and sisters. Kendra was energetic, spunky and always witty and fun.

  Kendra was a big sister to her five siblings. It was a role she took seriously and did well. She cooked for them, disciplined them, taught them and loved them. As a family, resources were short, but adventures were not. The best times of Kendra's childhood were when, as a family, they went camping, hiking, swimming, snowboarding and long bike rides. It was in these adventures that they bonded as a family and developed what for Kendra would be a lifelong love of adventure and travel. Kendra was full of life, love and was an expert at making her loved ones laugh with her quick wit.

  Kendra graduated from Norfolk High School. At age 21, Kendra was blessed with her son Jaxon. It was during some of her most challenging times as a single mother she met Drew Schroeder. Struggling with his own trials, he and Kendra shared a bond of understanding. Initially their relationship was one of friendship, but they soon became inseparable. Drew found Kendra to be ‘the strongest woman he had ever known.' He respected her for her exterior toughness and came to love her for her interior tenderness. 

  Life was not easy in the early days of their relationship, but together they became a family of deep love and devotion. Drew and Kendra married in 2017. The following year they were blessed with the birth of their daughter Dahlia, who was followed by son Isaac. It was in this role that Kendra found her highest calling and most fulfilling role, that of devoted mother, loving wife, accomplished homemaker.

  Friends and family alike were blessed by her terrific cooking.  There also seemed to be no challenge she couldn't overcome, learning to drive the boat, carpentry projects with Drew and painting jobs. Where there was a need, Kendra was there and ready. 

In addition to summers at the river with family, Drew and Kendra enjoyed extensive travel having visited all the states west of the Missouri except North Dakota. They loved visiting family in Wisconsin and Michigan and cheered on her siblings as they accomplished their various goals. 

  While they loved their adventures, they were always committed to home. They once drove all the way to California for a concert but midway through the concert decided they had had enough. They drove through the night to get back home for a grandma's birthday. 

  Kendra's life's joy was her children Jaxon, Dahlia and Izzy and her husband Drew. Though her life was too short, her impact is great. She mastered the art of overcoming trauma, doing much with little and finding joy even in the struggle. She leaves behind family and friends better off for having known her.

Kendra is survived by her husband Drew; two sons Jaxon Vetter-Zessin and Isaac “Izzy”; one daughter Dahlia; mother Gena Abramson; siblings Lacey and Devvon Vetter, Bethany Bungartz, Hanna and Gretchen Abramson; step-grandmother Patricia Vetter; nephews Ryker Laabs and Zayden Vetter; niece Ryla Laabs; in-laws Jennifer Carnine, Eric Blum and Nancy White; sister-in-law Madison Hood; and numerous aunts and uncles.

  She was welcomed into heaven by maternal grandparents Gene Rehling and Louise (Weeldreyer) Rehling, paternal grandparents Alois Vetter and Donna Vetter, father Alois Vetter Jr. and aunt Kimberly Vetter.