William Jacob Schrader II

Will Schrader of Euless, Texas passed away on October 1st, 2026 in Euless, TX. He will always be remembered as someone who brought laughter, adventure and new people into our lives! A loving father, son, brother, nephew, colleague and friend to those who met and knew him. He was born on August 29th, 1981 in Lafayette, Indiana (a loved, surprise 3rd baby) to Sandy and Jake Schrader.A few stories and adventures you might enjoy:

From the very beginning, Will (or BJ, his nickname as a child) kept his mom and dad on their toes with his independent and adventurous spirit. A favorite family story takes place when he was just 3 years old: driven by his craving for a snack, he took matters into his own hands and walked all by himself to the neighborhood grocery store, near our home in South Africa, proudly marching back home with a bag of chips. (Later he told mom he didn’t understand why a lady from the till (register) chased him). To Will, there was simply no need for adult supervision when hunger struck—a classic Schrader family trait that anyone who knows the Schrader men will smile and understand!

Will lived life determined and filled with excitement. As a four-year-old, he became a legend at the local small-town emergency room. While helping mom make play-doh in the kitchen, he managed to fall while holding a glass bottle of food coloring—leaving the doctor and nurses less worried about his stitches and more concerned with how they were ever going to turn him white again after being dyed smurf blue.

Will’s taste for adventure didn't slow down as he grew. In preschool, his mom received an unforgettable call from a teacher who suspected Will had swallowed a two-inch nail during craft time. A frantic trip to the hospital and an X-ray confirmed the teacher's hunch. What followed were a few nerve-wracking days of anxious waiting as his family watched for the nail to make its exit. Thankfully, the crisis passed, the nail was never seen again, and the story became just another chapter in the legendary tale of Will's fearless childhood.

At six years old, while on a flight from South Africa, Will wandered away and somehow ended up in first class, where he struck up a conversation with a Japanese businessman. Even after we found him and brought him back, he kept returning to visit his new friend. Even as a little boy, Will had an incredible ability to connect with people.

Fast forward a couple months and we lived in a small town in West Virginia. A package arrived from Japan addressed in a very jumbled, six-year-old version of our address. Inside was a model car that the Japanese businessman Will had met on the airplane had sent to him. It was amazing that a little boy could make such an impression on someone he had met on a flight. That was Will—people remembered him.

In the sixth grade, Will accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. The children and youth at his church naturally gravitated toward him, he was a favorite! His talks with God would come up throughout his life.

Will was a devoted father who filled his daughters' lives with joy, adventure, and laughter. He loved teaching Emma and Parker how to swim, alongside the all-important art of the perfect jump scare. He celebrated their individual spirits, always expressing deep pride in Emma’s dedicated hard work at school and Parker’s fearless talent in gymnastics.

What made Will special? He was funny, humble, genuine, and completely without pretenses. He could connect with anyone, regardless of who they were or where they came from.

Will is survived by his daughters Emma and Parker Schrader of Euless, TX , his father and mother Jake and Sandy Schrader, his 2 sisters and their husbands, Jen and Mike Dickinson and Malia and Brezh Sharpley and their children.

A celebration of Will’s life will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, October 9th at Lucas Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made to a Go Fund me created to support Will’s daughters during and after this difficult time.

Click here to donate