Herbert Schlater

Family-Placed Obituary

SCHLATER, Herbert H. 85, of Sidney, died of cancer at his home at 4:15 p.m. on Friday, June 25. He was born on May 23, 1919, in Osgood, to Fred and Bernadine (Albers) Schlater. He is survived by his devoted wife of 59 years, Antoinette Streacker. He was the proud father of six children including four sons, Kenneth (Brenda) Schlater of Sidney; William (Elizabeth) Schlater of Cincinnati; John (Debra) Schlater of Columbus; and James (Karen) Schlater of Brookfield, Wis.; two daughters, Janice (Nicholas) Sharkey of Northville, Mich., and Sharon (John) Rittenhouse of Plymouth, Mich. In addition, he is survived by his grandchildren: Dan and Patty Sharkey of Troy, Mich.; Chris and Erin Sharkey of Cincinnati, Ohio; Kate Sharkey of Royal Oak, Mich; Rick and Angie Lumsden of Chicago, IL.; Bryan and Sara Olding of Sidney; Emily Schlater of Sidney; Luke Schlater of Sidney; Peter Schlater of Fargo, N.D.; Eli Schlater of Dayton, Ohio; Sam Schlater and Jake Schlater of Cincinnati, Ohio; Ben and Jen Schlater of Avon Lake, Ohio; Ross and Elizabeth Williams of Santa Monica, Calif.; Matt Schlater, Anna Schlater, Rachel Schlater, Rebekah Schlater and Natalie Schlater of Columbus, Ohio; Zach Rittenhouse and Josh Rittenhouse of Plymouth, Mich.; Andy Schlater, Joe Schlater and Abby Schlater of Brookfield, Wis. He is also survived by six great-grandchildren. Others he is survived by include his siblings Delores (Robert) Peltier, Norb (Vera) Schlater, Velma (Jiggs) Thobe, Elmer (Carol) Schlater and Marlene (Joseph) Crusey. He is preceded in death by Alma Schlater, Al (Norma) Schlater, Vernon and Lucille Schlater, Urban (Martha and Cy Thobe) Schlater. Mr. Schlater served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, from 1942-46. After his military service he was employed by Anderson Electri Company in Sidney from 1946 to 1953. Mr. and Mrs. Schlater founded Sidney Electric Company in 1953 and Mr. Schlater served as its president until his retirement in 1984. He also founded the real estate development company, Fair, Inc., in 1976. He was chairman of the Board of Directors of Bank One Sidney N.A. from 1975 to 1989. During his remarkable career, Mr. Schlater earned many notable honors in his profession. He was vice president of the National Electrical Contractors Association and a fellow in the Academy of Electrical Contractors. He also received the "Look Magazine" Electrical Contractor of the Year award in 1962, 1963, and 1964; the "Thomas Edison" award from Dayton Power and Light in 1965, the National Contractor of the Year in 1972; and the Electrical Trophy for Contractors in 1972. He was also a member of the Board of Directors for Auglaize Inn, Clinton Realty, Shelby Oaks and P.F.S. Realty, FMG Investments, SMG Investments and 75 LLC. Mr. Schlater served his beloved Sidney community in many ways. He was very active in Lehman Catholic High School as the first president of the Board of Education, a founder of the Lehman Catholic High School Foundation, chairman of the 1985 Building Fund Drive and honorary chairman of the 21st Century Campaign. Among his many other community activities, he started the Sidney Electric Girls Softball League, was a founding member of Shelby Oaks Golf Club, was president of the Wilson Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, was a member of the Wilson Memorial Hospital Foundation and was president of the Sidney Noon Kiwanis and chairman of the Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services Foundation. For his contributions to the community, the Sidney/Shelby County Chamber of Commerce presented Mr. Schlater with its prestigious Zenith Award in 1998 "for outstanding and dedicated service." He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Sidney Chamber of Commerce, the Western Ohio Development Council, the Sidney Community Foundation, the Red Cross Sidney Chapter and Tri County Mental Health Association and co-chairman of the Salvation Army 1990 Center of Hope Campaign. The family will receive friends from 2-8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 29 in the Schlater Family Gymnasium at Lehman Catholic High School. In addition, a visitation will be held from 9:00-10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 30 at the Cromes Funeral Home, 302 S. Main Ave., Sidney. A funeral Mass will follow at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Angeles Church. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, Sidney. The family requests in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of Shelby County, the Holy Angeles Endowment Fund, the Lehman Catholic Foundation, or the charity of your choice. The Knights of Columbus will have a Memorial Service Tuesday evening at 8 P.M. at the Schlater Family Gymnasium at Lehman High School. All arrangements are being handled by the CROMES FUNERAL HOME, 302 S. Main Ave. in Sidney, Ohio 45365. Condolences may be expressed to the Schlater family by e-mail to: cromesfh@bright.net