Obituary: Schlatter

James Everett Schlatter, 79, Clarendon Hills, IL died Saturday, February 24, 2024 at his daughter’s residence in Hillside, IL.

Visitation will be 12:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 pm Friday, March 1, 2024, at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury, and 9:30 to 10:45 am Saturday, March 2, 2024, at the Chicago Apostolic Christian Church, Hillside.

His funeral will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, March 2, 2024 also at the Chicago Apostolic Christian Church, 1401 S. Wolf Road, Hillside, IL 60162.  Burial will follow at 3:30 pm in the North Apostolic Christian Cemetery, Forrest.  The family suggests memorials be given to Gateway Woods, Leo, IN.

Jim was born February 18, 1945, in Fresno, CA, the son of Dan and Ruth Bach Schlatter.  He married Kathy Rassi on April 7, 1974, in Tremont, IL.  She survives in Clarendon Hills.

Other survivors include one daughter, Katrina (Santiago Aridio) Cordero, Hillside, IL; six grandchildren, Yirenny, Zahony, Schandy, Yoshanny, Venny & Xiony Cordero; two sisters, Cheryl (Dennie) Mangers, St. Joseph, IL; Jeanne Metzger, Urbana, IL; and one brother, Tom (Barb) Schlatter, Chatsworth, IL.  He has 9 Schlatter nieces and nephews.  He was also well-loved by his wife’s family:  Curt and Kathy Rassi, and Dennis and Diane Rassi and their children, spouses, and grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his parents and one infant sister.

After ‘Jamesie’ graduated from Chatsworth High School in 1963, Jim received his B.S. in math and social studies education in 1967 from Illinois State University, Normal.  He taught 2 years in 2 downstate schools.  He had a heart for those less privileged than he and moved to Chicago in 1969 to teach math at Englewood High School on the south side, teaching there for close to 30 years.  Within that time, he earned his M.S. in math education from Chicago State University.  He later completed his 40 years as a Chicago public high school teacher at Lane Tech with its even more diverse student body.  

He repented and was baptized in the Apostolic Christian Church in Chicago, now in Hillside, early in his career.  On Palm Sunday, 1974, he married Kathy A. Rassi in Tremont, IL.  He called her ‘his Katho,’ and she called him ‘her Jimo.’  They filled nearly 50 years with love and shared passions:  their beloved daughter Katrina and family; church activities, including Jim & Kathy’s involvement with Gateway Woods; teaching and involvement with their students, those who lived with them:  their AFS daughter Aleida from MX City, Randy Fessenden (dec.), Lisa Benni; and time spent with Bach/Schlatter/Rassi/Schweigert extended families.  Jim loved the people, the singing, the fellowship, the reunions—and the food.  

Jim also thoroughly enjoyed his own passions:  1) ecological concerns—recycling, composting, and encouraging others to remember to take care of our environment, 2) gardening on the 2 ½ acres of land in Clarendon Hills, 3) gathering people together:  40 + years of Sunday School and neighborhood wiener roasts, graduations & other parties for their grandchildren.

Jim lived a very full life and touched so many lives through his various ministries.   He will be missed by more people than he would ever have realized.  He was an amazing example of living as Christ’s hands and feet.

Jim never would admit to stress. However, this past year, especially with his physical and speech limitations, life got harder.  He would want to give special recognition to Katrina and Aridio and their grandchildren, especially Zahony.