Jack Schiller

Lawrence Jack Schiller, 103, longtime resident and businessman of Oak Harbor, passed away Wednesday, January 25, 2012, at H.B. Magruder Hospital, Port Clinton. Jack was born September 3, 1908, in Rocky Ridge, Ohio, the son of Herman and Christina Iffland Schiller. In 1944 he married Hilda Judy Randall, his devoted wife of 64 years. She preceded him in death October 23, 2008. Jack had been a national agribusiness leader since starting Hayward, Inc. in 1932 and expanded his interests from Ottawa County to California. He founded the American Dehydrators Association in 1941, and during World War II he served in the U.S. Army as a captain, converting manufacturing plants to the production of dehydrated food for our troops overseas. In 1963 Jack traveled to Russia as a delegate of President Eisenhowers People to People program. He was subsequently a member of Governor Rhodes trade missions to Europe, Asia, South America, Australia and New Zealand. This group of businessmen became known as the Ohio Commodores, promoting business abroad for the state of Ohio. Jack became Grand Commodore in 1982. Jack was a charter member of the Oak Harbor Rotary Club and the Toledo Glider Club. He served on the Board of the Ottawa County Community Foundation and was honored as its first Trustee Emeritus. He also was an original member of the Board of the Oak Harbor United Methodist Church Foundation. He was an avid yachtsman at the Catawba Island Club, and his greatest passions were his family, farming and serving his community. Jack is survived by his children: John R. Schiller of Sagamore Hills, Ohio, Mary Coffee of Oak Harbor, and Barbara Lodermeier of Middle Bass, Ohio; six grandchildren: Kerry Coffee, Clark Lisa Coffee, John Barton Coffee, Mary Elisabeth Owens, Eric Jenna Seller and Ann Seller; two great grandchildren: Nola Seller and Kailey Coffee. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Judy, and siblings: Grace Kardatzke, Raymond Schiller and Esther Tabbert. There will be a private burial service for the family. A memorial service will be held at the Oak Harbor United Methodist Church, 360 E. Ottawa St., on Sunday, January 29, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Oak Harbor United Methodist Church Foundation, or the Jack Judy Schiller Dyslexia Fund of the Ottawa County Community Foundation, P.O. Box 36, Port Clinton, OH 43452. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Robinson-Walker Funeral Home Crematory, Oak Harbor.