William (Bill) Brandt Schrader, age 89, passed away peacefully at his home in Bloomington, Indiana on May 26th, 2023. He was born on November 4th, 1933, in Tuscola, Illinois to Wendell and Arlene (Brandt) Schrader. A newspaperman from a young age, Bill wrote sports stories for his school newspaper, eventually transitioning to the Tuscola newspaper. He then attended the University of Illinois but fell short of graduating by a few months because he was offered the position of sports editor at the Champaign News-Gazette in 1955. This was the beginning of Bills long and storied career in the newspaper industry. He served as editor for the Sunday Courier-Press in Evansville for 3 years and in 1966 transitioned to the Herald-Telephone in Bloomington as the sports editor. A year later he was offered the position of managing editor, then editor and associate publisher. He held both jobs until 1985, when he accepted the position of general manager and editor of the Bedford Times-Mail. He "retired" in 1995, but went on to produce the Schurz Communicator, an internal publication for then Times-Mails owners, Schurz Communications, Inc. until 2015. "Hard working," "workaholic," and "perfectionist" have been used to describe Bills work ethic, but those who worked alongside and for Bill will also say that he was a supportive and fair boss who mentored many journalists throughout his career. Not one to ever rest on his laurels, he also threw his energies into civic endeavors, citing his decades-long work on the improvement of highway 37/69 and serving as the Chairman of the Indiana 37/69 Association as one of his greatest achievements. In both Bloomington and Bedford, he served as chairman and president on multiple boards and councils. His accolades are numerous: Illinois High School Basketball Hall of Fame, a Kentucky Colonel, a Sagamore of the Wabash, and induction into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame in 2016. Bill also met 6 different presidents (Nixon, Carter, Ford, Reagan, and Bush Sr and Jr.). Some may also remember the Blizzard of 78 when Bill valiantly read the entire Herald-Telephone, including the comics, on WTIU because the snow prohibited delivery of the newspaper. This commitment to journalism also involved his 3 oldest children, who delivered many a Herald-Telephone on foot and on bike. You would be hard-pressed to find another Bill Schrader!One of Bills favorite summer activities was to visit his parents and aunt and uncle in Webb Lake, Wisconsin, where he could fish, swim, and enjoy the outdoors with his family. Bill also had a side gig writing travel stories and the family often benefitted from some of his favorite haunts: amusement parks. Along with his wife Barbara, they continued to ride roller coasters well into their 70s! He and Barbara also enjoyed many years of travel adventures together, with their most favorite years spent in their Airstream, exploring America via Airstream rallies, with Bill serving as the President of Region 5 (Midwest). Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Barbara; daughters Cindy (Thom) Benson, Cathy (Steve Franklin) Stone, Cheryl (Billy/Wil) Gerken; 5 grandchildren; Jacob (Sarah) Benson, Jean Marie (Austin) Poore, Samantha Stone, Sophia Gerken, and Anya Gerken; 3 great-grandchildren; Mason Benson, Alex and Isaiah Poore; sister, Nancy (Gary) Wehlage; brother, Robert (Barbara) Schrader; daughter-in-law, Denise Schrader; step granddaughter Deanna (Chris) Sykes; along with step great-grandchildren. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Mike Schrader.The family would like to thank Wellcare, I.U. Health Hospice, and Home Instead for the exceptional care and love that they have shown to them.Funeral services for William "Bill" Schrader will be held on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 1:00pm at the Hillcrest Christian Church in Bedford with Mark Fugate officiating. Burial will follow at Valhalla Memory Gardens in Bloomington. Visitation will be held at the church from 11:00am until the time of the service at Hillcrest Christian.Arrangements for William "Bill" Schrader have been entrusted to the Ferguson-Lee Chapel of Thorne-George Family Funeral Homes.Remembrances and condolences may be shared at www.FergusonLee.com. Cemetery Valhalla Memory Gardens 310 N. Johnson Ave Bloomington IN 47404 US Visitation Wednesday, May 31, 2023 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Hillcrest Christian Church 1130 Hillcrest Road Bedford Bedford IN 47421 US Funeral Service Wednesday, May 31, 2023 1:00 PM - Hillcrest Christian Church 1130 Hillcrest Road Bedford Bedford IN 47421 US Funeral Home Ferguson-Lee Chapel of Thorne-George Family Funeral Homes 818 18th St Bedford IN - 47421 US (812) 275-4433