Lorenz Schroeter
Lorenz Schroeter | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 May 1857 |
| Died | 3 December 1896 (aged 39) |
| Occupation | Wagenmeister |
| Era | |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Spouse | Catharina Ladesteijn (m. 1889) |
| Children | At least 3, including Lourens Schroeter and Paul Schroeter |
| Parents |
|
| Family | Schroeter family |
Lorenz Schroeter (25 May 1857 – 3 December 1896) was a German railway worker who became a Wagenmeister at the Deutzerfeld railway workshops in 1887. He had worked at Deutzerfeld since 1876 apart from three years of military service. He was the father of Lourens Schroeter.
Early life
[edit | edit source]Schroeter was born in Stommelerbusch on 25 May 1857 to Laurenz Schroeter and Gertrud Pütz. He was a middle child among several siblings. Laurenz worked the family's small plot and also took paid work clearing woodland. Gertrud came from a smallholder family near Stommeln. Lorenz received ordinary elementary schooling.
At 15, Schroeter moved to Cologne and lived with his paternal uncle, Matthias Schroeter. Matthias ran an undertaking business and used a local Stellmacher to maintain his funeral carriages. He introduced Lorenz to the tradesman, who took him on as an apprentice in April 1873. Lorenz completed the three-year apprenticeship in spring 1876 and took a job as a Stellmacher at the Deutzerfeld railway workshops.
Career
[edit | edit source]Schroeter worked at Deutzerfeld until October 1877, when he began three years of military service with the 5. Rheinisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 65. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1879. His officers encouraged him to pursue an officer-candidate path, but he refused and said he preferred repairing "bones", his term for structural parts of wagons and machinery. He left active service in October 1880 and returned to Deutzerfeld as a Stellmacher.
When a Hilfswagenmeister post became vacant in 1883, the works placed Schroeter in the role temporarily. He was confirmed in the position later that year. In 1887, he covered the duties of an absent Wagenmeister and received the permanent appointment after the temporary assignment. He remained a Wagenmeister until his death.
Personal life
[edit | edit source]After returning from military service, Schroeter rented a small apartment in Kalk in 1881 and lived there alone. He attended St. Marien, the Catholic parish church in Kalk. Catharina Ladesteijn moved from Rotterdam to Cologne for domestic work in 1886. She also attended St. Marien. They first spoke after Mass in spring 1886, when they happened to leave the church at the same time. They began seeing each other regularly within a few weeks. Schroeter proposed in spring 1888, and they married at St. Marien on 6 April 1889.
After the wedding, the couple rented a larger apartment in Kalk. Their son Lourens was born in Cologne on 15 December 1889. Paul Schroeter was born on 7 October 1891, and the couple had other children. In 1892, Schroeter bought a small house in Kalk with savings from his railway salary. The family continued visiting his relatives in Stommelerbusch. At home, he brought discarded wagon fittings and pieces of wood to show the children how simple repairs were done, especially Lourens.
Death
[edit | edit source]Schroeter developed symptoms of pneumonia on 20 November 1896 but continued working. On 25 November, he became severely short of breath and nearly collapsed while inspecting rolling stock at Deutzerfeld. He went home to Kalk, where a local physician diagnosed pneumonia that day and ordered strict bed rest. The physician returned several times over the following days. Schroeter continued to worsen, with persistent fever and delirium.
Laurenz and Gertrud came from Stommelerbusch during his final week. On the morning of 3 December, a priest from St. Marien administered the last rites at the house. Schroeter was intermittently conscious that evening and recognized Catharina and his parents before losing consciousness. He died at about 8:00 p.m., aged 39.
Catharina arranged the funeral with help from Matthias Schroeter, whose undertaking business handled the practical arrangements. Railway workers from Deutzerfeld raised a collection for Catharina and attended the funeral. Schroeter was buried at Alter Friedhof Kalk/Vingst on 8 December 1896.
His simple written will left his property to Catharina and the children, and she kept his tools for them. In spring 1897, she sold the house before returning to Rotterdam with the children.