Willie Louis Shrader, son of William Edmund and Martha Catherine (Kohlhof) Shrader, was born April 15, 1918 on the family farm near Ewing, NE. He attended Elementary School at Antelope County District 86 and graduated from Ewing High School in 1936. He began farming with his father.

On March 16, 1940, he was united in marriage to Leah Frances Fry at Madison, NE. Willie continued to farm along with earning his Real Estate License. He clerked sales at the Ewing Livestock Market, Neligh Livestock Market, farm sales and also was a tax consultant for many people filing their tax returns. In 1972, Willie went to work for the Farmers State Bank in Ewing, NE. He worked in the insurance office, assisted as a teller, and eventually a loan officer. He retired from the bank in 1987. He continued living on the farm until moving to The Willows in Neligh, NE in 2005.

Willie was a member of the United Presbyterian Church where he was an Elder and the church treasurer for many years. He and his wife Frances were members of the Adult Forum group in the church. He served as the secretary/treasurer for the Orchard Rural Fire District for 43 years. Willie also volunteered his service as a Board Member for Rural Antelope County School District 126.

He is survived by his three children: Sandra Lee Metz and husband Dean of Wayne, NE; Douglas Edmund Shrader and wife Mary Ann of Hanover Park, IL; David Earl Shrader of Verdigre, NE; six grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; three sisters: Dorothy Johnston of Clearwater, NE; Mary Lou Wettlaufer of O’Neill, NE; Betty Gunter of Orchard, NE; 3 sisters-in-law: Ava Fink of Page, NE; Marilyn Fry of Ewing, NE; Carol Vandersnick of Powell, WY; loving friend and caretaker Judy Zegers of Neligh, NE; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Willie was preceded in death by his parents; his wife in 1987; a sister Alice Shrader and infant sister Ruth Ann Shrader; and one brother Eddy Shrader.