Donald Laurence Schade passed away on November 18, 2024 with his wife by his bedside. Though he lost his decade’s long battle with Alzheimer’s disease, he gained the victory won for him by his Savior Jesus Christ, in whom he now rests.
Don was born October 12, 1949 in St. Louis, Missouri to Edward W. and Ida (née Kaiser) Schade. On November 24, at six weeks of age, Don was baptized into Christ in his home by Rev. Hobart Meyer of Hope Lutheran Church. Don attended Hope Lutheran Church and School in south St. Louis where he was also confirmed in his faith on April 7, 1963. He graduated from Lutheran High School South in 1968. His studies at Forest Park Community College were interrupted when he was drafted into the army during the Vietnam War. It was discovered then that he was color blind, so instead of being sent to Vietnam, he was stationed in Thailand. He served as a company clerk and learned how to water ski on his breaks. He was honorably discharged the following year.
Early on, he worked for Anheuser Busch, Mercantile Trust, Alexian Brothers Hospital, and Henry Plumbing. He owned his own water heater repair business in the mid-1990s, and in later years, he worked for Bieg Plumbing, retiring from there in 2014.
He was married to Karen Patterson from 1988-1993 and was blessed with two daughters, Chelsea and Abby. Don attended Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Brentwood, and he made sure his girls were always there, faithfully picking them up from their home every Sunday morning. He served on the board of elders and on the trustees committee for many years. It was here that he met the love of his life, Kristen Bade. They were married on September 9, 1999 and were additionally blessed with two more children, Caroline and Donald.
Don liked go-karting with his kids, watching NASCAR, and playing tennis, ping pong, air hockey, and volleyball. In later years, he enjoyed watching each of his girls play volleyball as well. He was known for his great love of ice cream and for the astonishing speed and quantity in which he consumed it. Don was also a champion napper. There was no place off limits, no noise level too disruptive, no floor unsatisfactory. Though he persuaded his family for years that he didn’t want a dog, we knew better and adopted his best friend Bear in 2017, who quickly became his floor nap buddy. They had many neighborhood adventures together on their walks, occasionally aiding and abetting each other in a few escape capers.
He loved life, people, his neighbors, his church family at the Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens, his own family and children, and his Lord. One of Don’s greatest joys was serving others. He never hesitated to help when asked. He could often be found helping around church by repairing all variety of things, doing dishes after church meals, and helping the elderly with home repairs. He was particularly proud to have served the Lord in Juarez, Mexico and in Houston, Texas, building and repairing homes.
Don was preceded in death by his parents Edward and Ida Schade and his nephew Joseph Brinkman. He is survived by his loving wife, Kristen; his four children Chelsea (Bobby) Jones of Orlando, Florida; Abby Schade of Nashville, Tennessee; Caroline Schade and Donald W. Schade of St. Louis, Missouri; his brother Edward (Laura) Schade of Colorado Springs, Colorado; sister P. Jeanne Schade of Weldon Spring, Missouri; sister Karen (John) Lyons of Defiance, Missouri; grandchildren Riley, Maddox, Chace, Noah, Emersyn, and Steele Jones; father- and mother-in-law William and Barbara Bade of Sun Lakes, Arizona; sister-in-law Liane (Jim) Henkell of Chandler, Arizona, brother-in-law Jeff (Ann) Bade of Scottsdale, Arizona; as well as several beloved nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Monday, November 25 from 4-7 pm at Kutis South County Chapel, 5255 Lemay Ferry Road. A funeral service will be held at The Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens on November 26 at 9:00 am A private burial ceremony will follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Nick Wille for Casas por Cristos.
The service will be live-streamed here.
The family would like to thank the staff at the St. Louis Altenheim and St. Croix Hospice for the extraordinary love and care that was shown to Don during his last two years of life.
Don exuded joy in his smile, laughter, killer ping pong matches, gentle words, and strong hugs and handshakes. We will miss him greatly. We are grateful that God gave us Don to love and enjoy while we shared the same time and space.
Don was a kind man, husband, father, and friend. He loved helping others. He always made you feel welcome when you would come visit. I love that he and Kristen found each other in this life and had a sweet family, and even a dog. Thank you God for bringing Don into all of our lives!
Don was life-time buddy that I have sorely missed these last two years. Before that, we spent many hours and years playing sports (Ping Pong most recently), working on projects, lunches and bumming around. After watching him slowly regress through the years with alzheimer’s I know he is finally free again to speak his mind, now with God.
Don was a close friend whom I meet in third grade at Hope School. He served as best man at Gloria and my wedding. I will always remember our wonderful childhood years growing up in south St. Louis. We had many wonderful days of just hanging out. I will always remember his smile and great sense of humor. Although we have not been able to spend time together over the past few years, he will always be one of my best friends. May he rest in God’s loving arms.
I got to know Don through Hurricane Harvey relief work and our Thursday night men’s group at Webster Gardens. What a great and caring guy. He will be missed. We will see you again., trusting in God’s promises to his children.