Donald R. (Don) Schechterle

Donald Ray Schechterle, 85, of 68 Colrain Road Charlemont, went to be with the Lord October 6, 2018 at Charlene Manor in Greenfield, MA after a short battle with cancer.

He was born on March 8,1933 to Sarah and Joseph Schechterle of Colrain,MA, married to Janice Richardson of Goshen, MA on September 22,1956 and was blessed with two daughters.

Donald was a graduate of Arms Academy in Shelburne Falls where he played tackle for the football team.  A veteran of the Korean War, he was stationed in Germany and served as a chaplain’s assistant to Major Berry.

In 1959 he started his own roofing and metal business and owned and operated Schechterle Roofing for 35 years.  

He was a beloved member, trustee, and deacon of the First Baptist Church of Colrain.

The Schechterles were avid travelers having traveled across the United States and Europe even having panned for gold in Alaska.

Donald will be remembered as a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, and great grandfather.  He was intellectually curious in numerous fields such as politics, stocks, medicine, history, music and mathematics.  He had many skills. As a young boy in the WWII era, he was apprenticed in many of the trades which he used to build his own house and his daughter’s houses as well and to help many that knew him.

He loved to play pinochle, tell stories, sing hymns, and watch football games.  He took great pride in his family but never looked for praise for himself.

Donald is survived by his wife of 62 years, Janice Richardson Schechterle and by his two daughters and their spouses, Debra Schechterle Booth, and her husband David of New Milford, CT and Carla Schechterle Abbott and her husband, Wayne of Southampton, MA.  He is also survived by four grandchildren Aaron Abbott and his wife Alyssa, Abigail Booth Cassell and her husband James, Tara Abbott Gibbs and her husband Cameron, and Juliann Booth as well as two great grandchildren William and Pierce Abbott. He has one living brother James Schechterle and his wife Barbara of Byron,Georgia and has been predeceased by four brothers and four sisters.

A memorial service will take place at the First Baptist Church of Colrain on October 13th, 2018 at 2pm followed by a reception at the church fellowship hall.  All are welcome. Memorial donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Colrain in lieu of flowers.

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