•Schepler, Clarence H. (“Sonny/Red”), Kendall, NY/Port Charlotte, FL: Clarence H. Schepler, 87, passed on January 15, 2015, after battling cancer for over 12 years. He was born August 8, 1927, at home in Kendall, NY, a son of the late William and Elsie Schepler. At Kendall Concordia Lutheran Church, he was baptized on 9/19/1927, confirmed 5/5/1940, and married to Alice (Steffen) on 10/22/1949. On 10/14/2014, he was sadly predeceased by Alice, who was his devoted wife of 65 years and sunshine for 70 years. Clarence is lovingly survived by his 3 children: Cynthia “Cindy” Kraemer, Scott (June) Schepler of Hilton, Mitchell (Margaret) Schepler of Avon; 7 grandchildren: Adrianne, Dianna, Amanda, Sydney Alison, Mark, Bill & Scott; 11 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; sister Carol Meiers of Ft. Myers, CO; nieces, nephews, and friends. He was also predeceased by his daughter-in-law Marlene; brother Kenneth (Lois); and sister Norma Fredrick.
Sonny was an achiever, who graduated with awards from Kendall Central School in 1945 and with a RIT diploma in 1956. In the US Army, he received a 1946 Honorable Discharge as a Medic I Expert with medals for Good Conduct and World War II Victory.
Sonny then farmed for his parents. After 1950, in his spare time, Sonny farmed his own farmland of grain and bought an old chicken-coop farmhouse to remodel into a home to raise his 3 children. Red was employed at Kodak for over 35 years as a Bldg. 58, Motion Picture and Sheet Film Foreman, Dept. Head, and consultant in Rochester, NY (and CA). He recommended many for Kodak jobs. He was in Kodak Park Pioneers’ Club. He received NASA Achievement Awards for the 1969 Apollo 11 film of man’s first landing on the moon, the 1974 Skylab film and the world’s first space station.
Clarence volunteered, with certificates, for the NY and FL Lion’s Clubs, American Legion, American Freedom Train, Meals on Wheels, and a Volunteer Firemen’s Association Life Member.
With his spare money and time, Clarence bought the Bald Eagle Creek Swamp and land by a 1961 Deed. With vision, he designed, developed, and founded the Bald Eagle Marina (now Eagle Creek Marina) for family, Kendall, and others to enjoy. It was a fun family project. After suggesting the town buy his marina in 1968 for a town park, Clarence then decided to design and have built his family house to overlook the marina in 1969. This home had an office with a downstairs pool table, piano, and free bar. Sonny enjoyed entertaining, fishing, boating, waterskiing until age 60, and developing his marina more. He sold it all in December, 1977, to a creek-neighbor. Clarence later designed and totally built a 4 car garage (to include his Model-T Ford) and totally built “Alice’s NY snowbird house,” with some help from his sons and nephew, David Schepler.
Like his ancestors, Clarence was involved in Kendall Concordia Lutheran Church. He was a lifetime member and on the church council and president. With his spare time and money, he bought in 1961 the ruined buildings and undeveloped land surrounding the church. In a 1964 Deed, he donated land to his church to enlarge its parking lot. In a 1972 Deed, he donated land to his church for a surrounding garden park. In a 1968 Deed, he donated land to the Town of Kendall.
In his retirement, Clarence drove Alice across country in their motor homes to sightsee and visit family and friends. In 1983, they became NY/FL snowbirds with fun golfing, playing cards, eating out, entertaining friends, and travelling. He remodeled and sold houses. In 1990, he joyfully helped raise Alison at 3 days old, and she was “his #2 daughter”. He enjoyed music, singing and dancing. In 2011, Alice and he moved to The Villages in Greece, NY. All his life, Clarence needed a daily purpose to unselfishly give, celebrate life, and love. His last request was to donate to find a cure for his painful melanoma cancer. Clarence (Sonny/Red) has passed on but will not be forgotten.
Clarence’s Celebration of Life church service will be on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 11AM, at Kendall Concordia Lutheran Church, with a military honor service at Greenwood Cemetery, and immediately after a church reception. In lieu of flowers, memorials to his church are appreciated.
