Joseph Richard Schleter, 82, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on Monday, April 22, 2013, after suffering a debilitating stroke five weeks earlier. He was born in Brownstown, Ind., on Aug. 5, 1930, the third son and fourth child of William and Mabel (Hamilton) Schleter.
A 1948 graduate of Brownstown High School, Joe served in the Air Force for four years, mostly in Japan. After an honorable discharge in 1954, he attended Purdue University and graduated with a Civil Engineering degree in 1958.
Joe was married to Nancy Jones of Newtown on June 3, 1960. They lived in Colorado, Texas, and Alabama before returning to Indiana and settling in Greenfield, where they lived for 35 years. He was employed for 11 years by the Indiana State Highway as a district traffic engineer and for 18 years with the James H. Drew Corporation as a project coordinator and estimator before he retired in 1992. He and Nancy have lived on the Jones family farm near Newtown since 1998. His favorite pastimes included reading, camping, traveling, railroads, photography, spending time with the family, watching sports (especially Purdue), crossword puzzles, and tinkering around the house.
Joe is survived by his wife, Nancy of Newtown; three sons, Will (Zeni) of Knoxville,Tenn., Jeff (Amy) of Wingate, Kurt (Peg) of Greenfield; and six grandchildren, Zeni Marie, Amy, Scott, Meg, Joey, and Gracie.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Fred and Jim; and a sister, Dottie Lou.
Calling will be from 5 to 8 p.m., on Friday April 26, 2013, at the Family and Friends Funeral Home in Wingate, Ind. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Saturday April 27, with Pastor Mike Parks officiating. Burial will follow at the Coal Creek Cemetery at Union Christian Church (Newtown, Ind.) with military honors by Veedersburg American Legion Post 228.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Coal Creek Cemetery (Union Christian Church) via Family and Friends Funeral home, P.O. Box 222, Wingate, IN 47994.
To share a memory or leave a condolence, visit us online at www.familyandfriendsfh.com
