Richard Schlabach

Richard Schlabach

LAFAYETTE - Richard (also known as Rick or "Slim") Schlabach died Monday, July 11 at the age of 66 in Lafayette, LA from a brief illness.

Rick was born on August 5, 1944 to Ada and Werner Schlabach, both of which preceded him in death. He lived most of his life in Flora, Illinois, working as a tow motor driver at a steel factory. He always enjoyed his job, and "Slim", as he was called by his co-workers was a quiet, thoughtful man never speaking ill of anyone and didn't have the heart to hurt a fly. He enjoyed fishing with his brother and nephews and was happy just to be there, even if he didn't catch anything, which was most of the time. This "gentle giant", as he has been called by his family,(all 6 feet 5 inches of him!) will most certainly be missed.

Besides his parents, Richard was preceded in death by one brother, Allen Schlabach, both sets of grandparents, a niece Tammy Laird, and a nephew Kern Schlabach. He leaves to remember his life one brother, Michael Schlabach and wife Connie from Lafayette, and two sisters, Shirley Denton from Robinson, Ilinois and Vicki Laird from Lafayette. He is also survived by nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly, those being Michael Denton from Robinson, Illinois, Kyle, Cory, Colin, and Cody Schlabach all from Lafayette. His nieces include Kimberly Morrison from Longmont, Colorado along with Cassia Laird from Xenia, Illinois, Rebecca Laird from Charleston, Illinois, Caitlyn Schlabach of Rayne, Louisiana, Cassandra Schlabach Romero from Abbeville, Louisiana and Cathy Schlabach from Lafayette. He also had numerous great nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank St. Agnes Nursing home in Breaux Bridge, where Rick resided. We also want to give a big thank you to the employees of St. Martin Hospital in Breaux Bridge for the exceptional and professional care he received there. You all went above and beyond to help take care of Richard. Also a thank you to Acadian Ambulance and to the ER staff at Our Lady of Lourdes for the compassion shown to us at the time of Ricks death. We appreciate all of the above.

Ricks plan was to be cremated and buried alongside his brother and parents in a family plot in Flora, Ill. No local services will be held and graveside services will be conducted at 2 PM at Elmwood Cemetery on Saturday July 16th, 2011. Grave Site Services will be Arranged through Frank & Bright Funeral Home, Flora, Ill. Personal condolences may be sent to the Schlabach family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com.

Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, is in charge of funeral arrangements.