RIP Uncle John

Once upon a time I had six uncles. Mom, had two brothers; Dad no brothers, but four married sisters. Of these six Uncles, three were named John. It's really popular in our family. (my Dad and brother also both named John.) And now the last of the Uncles John has left us. Mom's youngest brother passed away Tuesday, on his boat.

This photo was taken at my cousin Andy's wedding in September 2004.

John E. Schuler, age 68, a resident of Erie passed away unexpectedly Tuesday June 15, 2010. He was born April 17, 1942 in Erie the son of the late Theodore J. and Dorothy Wood Schuler. John was a graduate of Strong Vincent High School and received a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Penn State University. For many years he worked in Industrial Sales with the A. P. Green company. John was a member of the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Paul where he served as a lay reader and usher. John's true love was the water and he could usually be found on his boat or at the Erie Yacht club volunteering his time for some project. He taught boating safety for the Erie Power Squadron and held his Coast Guard Captain's license. John enjoyed helping with the annual MS Regatta and the "Frolic on the Bay" fundraisers. He enjoyed boating and duck hunting and had served as past president of the Northwest PA Duck Hunters Association. Besides the Erie Yacht club, John also belonged to several fraternal and social clubs including the Erie Elks lodge. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Berna Fay Schuler, who died in 2000. John is survived by his son Edward Schuler and his wife Alexandra of Erie along with a sister, Mary Ann Zoldak of Madison, Ohio, and a brother Theodore F. Schuler and his wife Maureen of Davidsonville, Md. He is further survived by his dear friend and companion, Ginger Johnson. Friends are invited to call at the John J. Quinn Funeral Home, West 9th & Liberty St. Monday from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM and are invited to attend Funeral Services Tuesday at 11:00 AM in the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Paul followed by entombment in their columbarium. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Erie, PO Box 395, Erie, PA 16512.