Robert Shlater

Robert E. Shlater, 80, a resident of Churubusco, died at 7:29 a. m. on Friday, August 22, 2008, at his residence. He had been in failing health for the past two years, and had been seriously ill for the past week. Mr. Shlater was born in Fort Wayne on June 3, 1928, a son of Willis and Mildred (Schroeder) Shlater. He moved with his parents to Churubusco in 1932, and graduated from Churubusco High School in 1946. As a young man he worked as a car salesman for the former Floyd's Auto Sales in Churubusco, and later for other auto dealers. He owned and operated Bob's Auto Sales in Churubusco from 1971 to 1997. An avid pilot, he had been a successful flight instructor for many years. He enjoyed motorcycles and car racing, and was a former track champion at the Warsaw Motor Speedway. A member of the Churubusco Town Council from 1992 to 2000, he was a member of the Fort Wayne Greater Aviation Museum. On March 24, 1947 he was married in Columbia City to Betty J. Weigold. She preceded him in death on May 22, 1978. He later married Jeannette "Jan" (Derrow) Hollopeter in Fort Wayne on September 15, 1984. She survives. Other surviving relatives include his children Stephen L. Shlater of Markle, Robert L. (Karen) Shlater of Huntington, William E. (Becky) Shlater of Port Orange, Fla., Sondra Shlater of Churubusco, and James A. (fiancee Jan Shamo) Shlater of Fort Wayne; his step-children Wesley (Carrie) Hollopeter, Shane Hollopeter, and Kimberly Hollopeter, all of Fort Wayne, and Tonya Hollopeter of Houston, Tx; a brother James (Bobbie) Shlater of Columbia City; a sister Sue (Wayne) Putt of Fort Wayne; 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents and first wife, he was also preceded in death by a son Richard C. "Duke" Shlater on July 23, 1974. Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. Wednesday, August 27, 2008, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Paul D. White, pastor of Churubusco Church of the Nazarene, officiating. The family will receive friends at the mortuary from 2 to 8 p. m. on Tuesday. Interment will be in the Eel River Cemetery, south of Churubusco. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Parkview Home Health & Hospice, 2270 Lake Avenue, suite 200, Fort Wayne, IN 46805; or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, 120 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005-4401. ****************************** To leave a condolence for the family in Mr. Shlater's memory, please click on "Condolences" below. . .