Shelby  County  Indiana
Obituaries

Schuler

The  Modesto  Bee
Stanislaus County, California
----------
RICHARD  "DICK"  IRVIN  SCHULER
NOV 20, 1936 - MAR 12, 2020
----------

----------

          Richard "Dick" Irvin Schuler,  died on March 12, 2020.  Dick was a 28-year resident of Modesto, loving husband, father, and grandfather, car enthusiast, family historian, amateur genealogist, and lover of animals.  Dick was born in Shelbyville, Indiana, son of  Paul and  Hildreth "Hildy" Schuler,  grandson of  Ed and  Margaret Schuler,  and  Irvin and  Ethel Howery,  all of Shelbyville, Indiana.  He was descended from German great grandparents, as well as Colonial English and other ancestors, that immigrated to Massachusetts, Virginia and then west, as well as many Union Civil War and Revolutionary War ancestors.  During WWII, as a young child, he moved with his parents to Indianapolis where both worked for Lukas-Harold on the Norden bomb site.  He and both sets of grandparents, plus four of his five Schuler uncles migrated to Los Angeles just before, during, and after the war.  Dick, his parents, grandparents Howery and younger brother, all migrated together as a caravan, after selling much of their belongings and the Howery's selling their service station in Shelbyville.  Although Dick became a nearly life-long Californian, he never forgot his Hoosier roots.
          Dick was a Boy Scout and attended the 1950 Jamboree in Valley Forge, PA, traveling by train.  He graduated from Westchester High School. Los Angeles, in 1955, where he was a popular student who excelled in Varsity Track and auto shop.  During this time period and the rest of the 50's he was a member of car clubs and raced in the dry LA River, the same as was depicted in the film Grease.  After high school, he began studies at Santa Monica City College and worked full-time, but, finding it difficult to do both, and having no financial support, decided to work to save money to pay for and then to attend mechanic's school.  In addition, his father had his first of many heart attacks during this time, and he worked to contribute to the support of the household.  During this time period, he worked as a locksmith for the Rand Corporation and as a machinist.  It was in about 1960 that he was drafted into the U.S. Army, sent to basic training at Fort Ord, Monterey County, and then to Fort Lewis, WA, to the Yakima Firing Center where he used his mechanic's skills with vehicle engines and participated in live fire exercises.
          It was in Yakima that he met the love of his life,  Laverda "Marty" Martin.  After marrying September 9th of 1961, he was soon after shipped to Germany with his unit, per President Kennedy's orders, as a show of force during the Berlin Wall Crisis.  The separation from his bride was difficult, but led to experiences that Dick remembered his entire life, such as visiting Hitler's Eagle's Nest and gaining a soldier's command of the German language, one of his faovrite phrases being "Bring mir ein bier, bitte."  Returning to Yakima after his service overseas and reuniting with his young wife was one of his happiest memories.
          After his discharge from active duty in the Army in 1962, and not finding work in Yakima, WA, he and his now-pregnant wife moved to Los Angeles.  An old high school buddy had recommended him for a job at Bank of America, where he enjoyed a successful career for the next 31 years.  During the 60's, Dick also spent about six years in the U.W. Army Reserves.  He worked at the bank in downtown Los Angeles and Beverly Hills in the Audit Department through the 60's, while at first living in a small apartment over a deli in south central LA, then moving to Westchester.  In the Beverly Hills office, he enjoyed seeing such Hollywood luminaries as James Cagney and Edward G. Robinson.  While working in the Audit Department in the Beverly Hills office, he recalled being surrounded by degreed men, while he had not been able to gain a college education, and solving a particularly difficult case of a missing $370,000.  He was always proud of being chosen to explain the results of his investigation to the Board of the "big wigs", who had not believed him, and being vindicated in his accuracy.  This success with the Beverly Hills investigation led to a promotion and offer to move to Fresno, which he and the now-family-of-four took.  While in Fresno, he chose to leave auditing as it would have meant a move back to Los Angeles or to San Francisco and he had no desire to return to LA or a large city.  Auditors were a crazy bunch and he never forgot their traditions and escapades, including good-natured hazing and betting on everything.  His career led to branch management and to Manteca, and then to Jackson, Amador County, as the charismatic branch manager, where he enjoyed his time as the big fish in the small pond and then enjoyed moving out of the small town environment.  Throughout his career, he took so many night classes related to finance, including those through UC David extension, that he would say that he pretty much earned his college degree.
          In the mid-1980's, in his early 50's, Dick was diagnosed with a rare disease and told he had a short time to live.  He decided to take an early retirement and live the life that he wanted, achieving traveling with his brother to visit cousins, traveling with his wife through part of the United States in their R.V., attending the Indy 500, and spending a summer as the host of a campground in Washington State.  They returned to Modesto upon the birth of their first grandchild and enjoyed their trips to the California Speedway, to Hawaii and Monterey, and visiting and being a part of the lives of their two daughters and five grandchildren.  He enjoyed researching the family tree and solving family genealogy mysteries (even traveling to Indiana, Washington State, and the LDS Center in Salt Lake City) and helping others with their research, playing pool, competing in target shooting, bike riding, volunteering at the McHenry Mansion, dabbling in the realty business, occasionally working odd jobs, and supporting his wife in her Catholic faith.
          Dick had a lovely singing voice and would sing for his daughters and while living in Jackson, even joined with his wife's church choir during Christmas seasons.  He was also very funny, loved joking, and knew that life had its ups and downs, saying often "That's the way it goes!"  He lovingly took care of a variety of pets throughout his life, bringing home abandoned cats and dogs.  A medical breakthrough resulted in the reversal of his terminal prognosis of the mid-1980's, with Dick living to over 83 years old, only felled at last by an aggressive skin cancer which he fought gallantly to the last day.
          Dick was predeceased by his parents and brother  Phillip Schuler.  He leaves behind his wife of 58 years, Marty, of Modesto, CA, his daughters,  Linda McDougall,  her husband,  Matthew McDougall  of Salida, CA,  Leann Taagepera  of Benicia, CA, and five grandchildren,  Chelsea  of San Francisco, CA.,  Allison  of Modesto, CA, and  Duncan McDougall  of Modesto and Arcata, CA, and  Trent Richard Taagepera  of Benicia and Irvine, CA, who shared birthdays with Dick, [and]  Katrina Taagepera  of Benicia, CA; cousins, nieces and nephews.  He also leaves his long-time friends  Bob and Loty Thomas,  with whom he never forgot their famous houseboat vacation and all their fun times.  May we strive to be chivalrous, wise, and tenacious as he demonstrated throughout his life.  Although of course he will be missed, we raise our glasses to toast to his life well-lived.  Bravo Dad, you did it.  Dick will be buried in the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella with full military honors.
Contributed by Leann Taagepera
Note:  My father was born in Major Hospital in Shelbyville and my ancestors go back in time in Shelbyville and Indiana for 200 years.  My great grandmother knew Charles Major, as I’m sure a lot of locals did.  I still have relatives there in Shelbyville.  My father and I enjoyed researching our family tree together and I wrote this obituary as a tribute to him and for future family historians so that he will, I hope, never been forgotten.  My great grandparents were Michael and Caroline (Haehl) Schuler; Michael owned a saloon on the main square in Shelbyville, which was the Schuler and Rapp Saloon before he owned it on his own.  His mother’s maiden name was  Rapp  and he had gone into business with a relative.  The Ed and Margaret Schuler farmhouse still stands there on the outskirts of Shelbyville.

The  Shelbyville  News
August 17, 1999
-------

Hildreth M. Schuler, 82, Modesto, Calif., died Aug. 1.  Former Shelbyville resident and had relatives here.
Born Feb. 10, 1917, in Shelbyville, d/o  Irvin and Ethel (Raines) Howery.  Married  Paul F. Schuler on April 21, 1935, and he preceded her in death on Feb. 3, 1989.
Purchasing agent for Hughes Aircraft until her retirement in 1978.
Member of Centenary United Methodist Church, Modesto, Calif., Omega Nu Tau sorority, the Newcomer Club and the Encore Club.
Graduate of Shelbyville High School.
Survivors include two sons, Richard Schuler, Salida, Calif., and  Phillip Schuler, Lawton, Okla.; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial services Centenary United Methodist Church.
Summarized by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Shelbyville  News
Monday November 2, 1981
----------

Mrs. Margaret Schuler, 73, former Shelbyville resident, died at 8 a.m. Sunday in Los Angeles, California.
Daughter of  Wesley and Nancy (Lackey) Ivie, born April 21, 1908, Shelbyville.
Married to Robert Schuler; he preceded her in death in 1978.
Surviving are two daughters,  Mary Lou Baca and  Helen Tuttle; a brother,  Herbert Ivie, Shelbyville; two sisters,  Lula Swinehart, and Betty Ivie, Shelbyville.  Three brothers and two sisters preceded in death.
Contributed by Barb Huff
Summarized by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Shelbyville  Republican
Wednesday February 27, 1946
Page 1 column 4
----------
DEATH  CLAIMS  MRS. SCHULER
----------
Native of County Dies At Indianapolis
----------

          Word has been received by  Miss Katherine Ensminger, of this city, concerning the death of her sister, Mrs. Anna Ensminger Schuler, widow of  Ambrose Schuler, who died Tuesday at her home in Indianapolis after a short illness.  Her home was at 27 North Holmes Avenue.
          Born in Liberty township, Mrs. Schuler was the daughter of  Julian  and  Jean McDougall Ensminger.  Her husband died two years ago.  Mrs. Schuler had lived in Indianapolis for the past twenty-five years.
          Surviving are the sister, Miss Katherine Ensminger, of Shelbyville, and a brother, John Ensminger, of Waldron.  Among several nieces and nephews surviving are  Miss Hazel McKay and  Robert McKay of this city.
          Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Friday at the Royster and Askin funeral home on West Washington street in Indianapolis.  Burial will be about noon that day in the Vienna cemetery in Rush county.  Friends may call at the funeral home any time Thursday and on Friday until the hour of the service.
Contributed by Barb Huff for Bob McKenzie

A  Shelbyville  Newspaper
Thursday, July 11, 1935
----------
FORMER  RESIDENT
DIED  YESTERDAY
----------
Mrs. Caroline Schuler, Mother of
Ed Schuler, Died at 5:30 O'clock
Yesterday in Washington
----------

          Mrs. Caroline Schuler, mother of  Ed Schuler, of the Thompson road, died at 5:30 o'clock yesterday evening in Sumner, Wash., according to an announcement received here today. At the time of death Mrs. Schuler was eight-five years old.
          Mrs. Schuler, a former resident of Shelbyville and the daughter of  Henry and  Mary Haehl, was well known to the older residents of both Shelby and Rush counties. Born in Rush county, the deceased moved to Shelbyville in her youth. She moved to Washington approximately twenty years ago.
          The deceased is survived by six children,  Ed Schuler,  Mrs. Albert Coulston  and  John Schuler, all of Shelbyville;  Mrs. Frank Hastings, of Indianapolis, and  August and  Earl Schuler, both of Sumner, Wash. She is also survived by two step-children,  Mrs. Mary Schoelch, of Shelbyville, and  Mrs. Elizabeth Steckelman, of Greensburg. Her husband, Michael Schuler, preceded her in death.
          Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Shelbyville  Republican
Tuesday April 20, 1909
Page 5 column 3
----------

          Michael Schuler  died at his late home in North Hamilton street at nine-fifteen Monday morning, at the age of seventy-five years, six months and twenty-three days.  Deceased was born in Harrison county, this state.  He came to Shelbyville in 1871 and has since lived here.  He is survived by a widow and nine children - five sons,  William,  Edward,  August  and  Earl, of this city, and  John  of the First Cavalry, Stotsfield, Philippine Islands; and four daughters,  Mrs. Robert Schoelch,  Mrs. Albert Coulston,  Mrs. Carrie Traylor, of this city and  Mrs. Gus Steckelman  of Greensburg; also by seventeen grandchildren.  The funeral will be at his late home at 2 p.m. Wednesday by the Rev. Smith.
Contributed by Barb Huff  for Grace Painter

Obituary Index       Main Page

To contact researchers listed above, please use the  Surname Index