John William Schade

He was born on September 29, 1939, in Dunkirk, NY, one of four children of William and Adelaide (Diefenbach) Schade.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Virginia (Schade) Eastman and Joan Elaine (Schade) Guzik and his wife, Barbara (Cheek) Schade.

He is survived by his sister, Sally (Schade) Kingsley of Dunkirk, NY, three children, son Bill (Barbara) Schade of Little River, SC, daughter Julie (Charles) Kozloski of Spotsylvania, VA, and son Matt (Erin) Schade of Ellicott City, MD; seven grandchildren, Danielle Kozloski, Brittany Kozloski, and Jonathan, Spencer, Will, Luke, and Sam Schade; one great-grandchild, Cole Baxter; and many nieces and nephews.

John graduated from Dunkirk High School, class of 1957. In 1958, at the age of 19, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Early in his tenure he was stationed at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, IL, where he would meet his soon “to be” wife while stationed there. They were married in 1960 and lived in Rantoul until the Air Force moved them off on a 30-year adventure before retirement in Northern Virginia, where they put down roots in the late 1980s. They were married for 63 years.

He had a constant pursuit for knowledge and learning how things work. During his service John pursued his Bachelors graduated from Colorado State University in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science in Business/Production Management. He later went back to school to obtain a Master’s in Business Administration Management Information Analysis/Management in 1971 from Indiana University Kelley School of Business.

He showed a passion for music beginning at a young age by participating in the Drum & Bugle Corps of Dunkirk, NY. While he played various brass instruments throughout the years his true love was for the trumpet. He remained an active member and supported the Drum & Bugle corps by attending reunions and marching in parades well into his retirement.

He was an avid traveler with over 20 cruises taking him to all parts of the world. His travels gained him many friends and a long-standing travel circle of friends. He would spend his free time at spending time with his family or being outside tending to the lawn, and his boats.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 22 at West Portland Baptist Church in Westfield, NY at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association.