Melvin Schroder Jr.

Nov 19, 1944 -

Mar 15, 2026

Longtime Anchorage, Alaska, resident Melvin "Mike" Schroder Jr. passed away on March 15, 2026.

As a child in 1950, Mike moved with his family from Oregon to Anchorage, where they lived in a tent for two years while his dad built the family home. Mike attended school in Anchorage, graduating from West Anchorage High School in 1963, where he played on the hockey team and played in the band.

After graduating, Mike worked for two years for the National Bureau of Standards on Elmendorf Air Force Base before going to work for Pacific Northern Airlines in 1966. He continued to work in cargo for the airline through it's transition to Western Airlines and then to Delta Airlines, from which he later retired.

Mike's hobbies included playing darts and his guitars. In his retirement, Mike enjoyed fishing in Alaska, gardening, traveling and restoring his vintage Corvette.

Mike is survived by his wife of 61 year, Lauralee Schroder; daughter, Connie Downs; and granddaughters, Melissa Self and husband Billy and Kaila Downs, all of Spring, Texas. He is also survived by his sisters, Terry Sloan and husband Rory of Salem, Ore., and Debra Roper and husband Ron of Wasilla, Alaska; numerous in-laws; and nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at Anchorage Funeral Home, 1800 Dare Avenue in Anchorage.