Katherine J. Schlender

Katherine J. Schlender, 98, of Perrysburg began her final journey on December 31, 2017, at Elizabeth Scott Community where she had been under hospice care for the last six weeks. She was born in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, where she excelled in running track and was an alternate for women's sprint in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany. Katherine never attended the event, but emigrated to America in 1936 and escaped Hitler’s rise to power. She lived with relatives in Toledo, and attended St. Ursula Academy where she learned English and developed lifelong friendships. She met Irvin Schlender, her future husband, through mutual friends in Toledo who especially enjoyed motorcycling, and became engaged on Christmas Eve, 1941. Irvin was in the US Army at the time, and in less than a month he was transferred to Lowrey Field in Denver, Colorado. Katherine traveled alone by train to Denver, where they were married on January 17, 1942. While Irvin was in the Service and in the early years of her marriage, Katherine worked as a cosmetologist. Katherine was a former member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, where she was very active in its socials and activities. She also worked at Libbey Glass, retiring in 1981. After retiring, she spent much time on knitting, crocheting and embroidery, enjoying bingo and feather parties in the fall, and making occasional visits to the local area casinos, where, more often than not, she had a knack for leaving with more money than she went in with. Katherine is survived by her daughters, Linda Schlender and Sandy (Don) Billmaier: grandchildren, Bob (Erika) Schlender, Charlie Schlender and Laura McIlroy: step grandchildren, Gretchen (Brian) Barr, Susan Billmaier and Don (Michelle) Billmaier: great grandchildren, Kennedy, Charlie, Katy, Cody, Jacob and Xander. She was preceded in death by her husband Irvin, infant son James, son Thomas and grandson Thomas. Family and friends will be received from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, January 8, 2018 at Witzler Shank Funeral Home, 222 E. South Boundary Street, Perrysburg, Ohio (419) 874-3133. A memorial service will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. followed by burial in The Historic Woodlawn Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in Katherine's name to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS, 66675-8517. Condolences may be made on line to the family at www.witzlershank.com.