Eugene "Gene" Schlader

CHARLES CITY, Iowa - Eugene "Gene" Schlader, 79, of Charles City, died January 6, 2008, at Saint Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minn.

A funeral Mass for Gene Schlader will be held 2 p.m. Thursday at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. The Reverend Carl Ries, pastor, will celebrate the Mass. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery at Charles City. There will be a flag presentation by the Charles City Ceremonial Unit.

Friends may call at the Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday where there will be a Rosary recited at 4:30 p.m. and a Vigil Scriptural Wake Service at 7 p.m. followed by at Rosary led by the Knights of Columbus. Visitation will continue Thursday at the church an hour prior to the service.

Eugene Francis Schlader was born December 2, 1928, at Cresco, the son of Virgil and Gladys (McCarville) Schlader. He graduated from the Immaculate Conception School in 1947. Gene proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. On October 27, 1956, he was united in marriage to Laurna Elliott at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Charles City. Gene worked for 38 years at the Oliver/White Farm Equipment Company primarily in the foundry as a melting foreman. He also farmed part time. Gene was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, longtime member of the Knights of Columbus where he was a 4th Degree Knight. His interests included fishing, farming, playing cards, working on machinery and was a general handyman. Family was always very important to Gene, and he cherished his time with them as they shared their lives together. 

 Living family members include his wife of 51 years, Laurna of Charles City; Maria (Steve) Whitrock of Gladstone, Ore., Brad (Cathy) Schlader of Columbia, Mo., Rod (Sue Rebedeau) Schlader of Mason City, Brent (Christine) Schlader of Charles City, Michelle (Terry) Cain of Williamsburg, Geralyn (Gary) Ward of Robins, and Mark (Melissa) Schlader of West Fargo, N.D.; 26 grandchildren; five brothers, Jerome (Lenore) Schlader of Rockford, Donald (Mary) Schlader of Dubuque, Raymond (Arlene) Schlader of Louisville, Ky., Lyle (Myrna) Schlader of Charles City, and Roger (Ann) Schlader of Hastings, Minn.; and two sisters, Marian (Grafton „Red‰) Monaghan of Springfield, Mo. and Mary Helen (Greg) Kuehn of Costa Mesa, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Robert Schlader.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 106 Chapel Lane, Charles City, IA 50616.

The Hauser Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, www.hauserfh.com, in Charles City, is in charge of arrangements.