Retired pastor fatally struck by car in KC remembered for his commitment to justice
An 83-year-old retired minister who was struck and killed by a vehicle last week is being remembered for his passion for justice.
Theodore “Ted” Schroeder and his wife, Linda Schroeder, were walking Wednesday near Wornall Road at West 98th Street when they were hit.
Kansas City police said in a statement that a northbound Dodge Avenger struck the couple as they were crossing the road.
The driver of the Dodge car stopped after the crash and provided a statement to officers. Police determined that the driver was not impaired at the time of the crash and was released at the scene.
Linda Schroeder was transported to an area hospital and was listed in stable condition, the police department said.
The couple were active members of Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, located at 9100 Mission Road in Prairie Village.
“His whole life has been about justice and service and advocacy,” said the Rev. Alix Pridgen.
Schroeder was a Lutheran minister for several decades in St. Louis, leading an inner city church and contributing to civil rights causes.
He also founded a prison ministry that helped children visit parents who were incarcerated and had done work in Central America.
“Not many people fit that much stuff into one life,” Pridgen said.
The Schroeders also had three children and now have grandchildren.
About 15 years ago, Ted Schroeder retired and they moved to Kansas City and joined Pridgen’s congregation. He was active with senior ministries and would step in and preach when Pridgen wasn’t available.
“He was very involved in the congregation,” she said.
He was also committed to “living green,” Pridgen said, growing vegetables to share with neighbors and flowers that the Schroeders brought to the church every week.
“She and Ted were an amazing married couple. Unlike most that I know, with a long, long marriage like that, they still did everything together. I mean, they were partners on every project, everything they did, they did it together,” Pridgen said.
Linda Schroeder underwent surgery and is recovering, but because of the new coronavirus, has not been able to have family or friends visit her at the hospital.
“It’s hard on everybody right now who goes through normal life traumas with the COVID pandemic because you can’t have any visitors,” Pridgen said.
The Kansas City Police Department said that the investigation is ongoing and will take some time to complete because it involves a fatality.
This story was originally published April 20, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
