John Schiller
John Schiller passed away at his home in Maple Valley on April 18, 2015. John was 97 born on July 22, 1917 to John and Magdalena Schiller in Markinch, Saskatchewan, Canada. He was the youngest of six children with five older sisters.
The family moved from Canada to Seattle when John was six and he grew up in Rainier Valley, attending Franklin high school and Edison Vocational School. He worked at one company, Washington Iron Works, for 43 years. His work ethic was appreciated and rewarded with many promotions as he began as an apprentice and retired as Superintendent of the Machine Shop in 1979.
John was preceded in death by his loving wife and best friend of 68 years, Claudia (Billie). Their love story began when they married in June of 1944 and moved to their home on Lake Lucerne, which John had purchased in February of that same year. They shared a beautiful and romantic life together. John and Billie lived life to the fullest and had many friends and family that joined them in the fun adventures. They loved golfing, time at their vacation condos in Ocean Shores, and Hawaii, camping, mushroom picking, beach combing, traveling to Mexico, Fiji, and Reno and backpacking the beaches including the West Coast of Vancouver Island.
John was an avid gardener and regularly donated fresh produce to the Maple Valley Food Bank. He’ll be remembered for his “Schiller’s Killer” tomatoes and “John Schiller’s Homemade Pickles and Sauerkraut” (both for connoisseurs only) which he made annually and generously shared with friends and family. He also enjoyed playing the stock market and continued trading up to just days before passing.
John was a man of integrity, strong character and was respected and loved by many, some calling him the father they never had. He became a naturalized US citizen in 1957 and had an unwavering love for his country.
He is survived by daughters Judy (Jim) Coovert and Joan (Allen) Scott, both of Maple Valley; grandchildren Daniel (Kori) Melton, Tempe, AZ; Darren Melton, Maple Valley; Scott (Michele) Melton, Columbia Falls, MT; Melody (Kevin) Downey, Fall Brook, CA; seven great grandchildren and one great great grandson.
John will be missed and remembered for being an incredible man. A Celebration of Life is being planned. Details and guestbook can be found at “marlattfuneralhome.com”. Memorials may be made to the Heritage Foundation or the Maple Valley Food Bank.
