Irving Gerald Schkade Obituary

Irving Gerald Schkade, 56, was born in Coleman on May 11, 1944, and passed away at his home in Austin on May 4, 2001. He was a graduate of San Angelo Central High School and a veteran of the National Guard. He had worked for the State Comptrollers Office, was a salesman, an independent businessman, and a licensed chemical dependency counselor. Most importantly he was a friend whose heart was the size of Texas. Gerald was many things to a lot of different people. He was a friend to all who knew him, and also a son, brother, father, husband, uncle and grandfather, or G-Pa as his family called him.

Gerald is survived by his children, Jaret Schkade of Aspen, Colo., and Jeff Schkade and his wife, Whitney, and two grandsons, Wilson and Parker Schkade, of Mansfield; his mother, Bernice Schkade of San Angelo; two brothers, Kermit and Greg Schkade, both of San Angelo; and two sisters, Vicki Eicher of San Angelo and Karen Fowler of Commerce. His father, H. Irving Schkade preceded him in death. Also surviving Mr. Schkade are a host of other close relatives and friends.

Anyone who took the time to know Gerald came away with a friend for life. Many of the family members refer to him as the ultimate salesman. We all thought that he could sell ice boxes to Eskimos. We were all pleased when he began working with those whose addictions were more serious than someone who merely needed commercial products. Gerald embarked on a life dedicated to helping others, and along the way became a better person for it. The number of individuals he helped cannot be measured, but as he would put it, I was just doing what I do best helping someone help himself. He will be missed greatly by all who knew him, but most of all his family. They will miss his kind heart, gentle touch, hearty laugh, and his caring nature.

Service for Mr. Schkade will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday, May 7, in Johnsons Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Grosse Mohler officiating. Burial will follow in Fairmount Cemetery. Pallbearers will be CHARLES SPEIKER, ALEX DECUIR, Jerry Don Smith, BERNAY SCHEFFIELD, Weldon Estes, Jaden Smith, Scott Pettigrew and Wade Ellis. The family requests memorials be given to Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council for the Concho Valley at 3553 Houston Harte Freeway, or to a favorite charity.