Micheal Ellis Schlater

Micheal Ellis Schlater was born on June 30, 1938 to John Oliver Schlater and Ella Marie Nicholson Schlater Reichart in Omaha Nebraska. After 82 years of family, friends, and music, he passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 20, 2021. For his last five years, he faced a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s with courage and good humor.

Mike was preceded in death by his mother and father, his second wife, Sally Jo Jewell Kregness Schlater, his third wife Lynn Jeanette Williams Nesmith Schlater, and his stepson Tim Kregness. He is survived by his brothers, Pastor John Oliver Schlater (Jane) and Robert Stephen Schlater (Dorothea), and his first wife, Josephine Cecilia Sullivan Schlater. Mike’s surviving children are Thomas Schlater (Rose), Marie Schlater, Teresa Myers (Larry), Carmen Skare (Joe), Barbara Aringdale (Todd), Michael Schlater (Tristan McCoy), Regina Schlater (Matt Leatherwood), Joni Van Beber (Mike), Carey Nesmith, Jim Nesmith (Becky), Matt Nesmith (Jo), Julie Kregness Thorsen, and Lisa Kregness. Mike is also survived by 19 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

With a lifelong, genuine interest in people – he never met a stranger – Mike spent his professional life in sales, everything from Dictaphone to real estate to insurance to telemarketing Time/Life books. He spent many years with Toastmasters, including service in leadership positions. Mike’s love of public speaking led to his avocation in later life: professional storytelling, a skill inherited from both his mom and dad. He included guitar playing and singing in his many performances.

The second of three sons, Mike spent his childhood and school years in Louisville, Nebraska. When he was a sophomore in high school, he received a guitar for Christmas. Within six months, he was performing for an audience. His first gig was playing guitar and singing with his friend, Jug, during intermission for the class play.

For two summers during his high school years, Mike worked at a general store with rental cabins in Raymond, Colorado. There, he performed any job that needed to be done, from cleaning cabins, to working in the kitchen to taking the son of guests on a horseback ride. Thus began his love of the mountains.

After graduating high school at age 16, Mike moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. While working for the University, he enjoyed going to dances, where he met his first wife. Shortly after marrying in 1956, Mike joined the Air Force. He and his growing family were stationed in Albany, GA and Belleville, IL. For one year of his service, Mike was stationed in Reykjavik, Iceland where one memorable experience was walking through a rainbow. (Sorry folks, no pot of gold.)

Mike and Jo settled in Grand Island, NE where they continued raising their eight children. During his years in Grand Island, Mike sold real estate. He enjoyed calling and teaching square dancing and socializing with family and friends through church and the Knights of Columbus.

In 1975, Mike moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where he met his second wife. After a few years, they moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, and later Des Moines, Iowa. During this time, Mike changed his focus in sales from real estate to insurance. Although most weeks were “on the road,” Mike loved and excelled at his job, which also included teaching sales seminars.

Mike returned to Lincoln after Sally’s death. Just before he accepted a new job based in Colorado, he met Lynn. Through their marriage in 1988, Mike gained three more young adult children. Mike and Lynn moved to Lakewood, Colorado where Mike’s sales career shifted again, this time to telemarketing. Living in Colorado made it easy for him to frequently experience the mountains he loved. In addition to many day trips to remote mountain towns and numerous hikes with Lynn and family, Mike became a volunteer nature guide. This volunteer “gig” showcased his growing knowledge of wildflowers and his storytelling skills. While in his 50s, Mike three times accomplished a goal he made when working in Raymond as a teenager: Climb Longs Peak (elevation 14,259 feet).

To be closer to family (shout out to Grammy!) Mike and Lynn returned to Lincoln, Nebraska in 2005. In Lincoln, Mike’s career took another turn, first working as a customer service agent for financial institutions, and later as a clerk and checker at HyVee. Although Mike did not continue to focus as much on paid gigs, he never stopped entertaining his family with his stories and songs.

After Lynn’s passing in 2016, Mike’s struggles with memory became more apparent, eventually leading to a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s dementia. With support and encouragement from his family, he moved to The Legacy, where helpful residents and devoted staff allowed him to live semi-independently. As the dementia progressed, Mike moved to The Arbors, where the kind, caring, and skilled staff provided the additional, needed assistance. Mike spent his final waking days, smiling, singing songs and telling stories surrounded by his family.

All are welcome to an exuberant (untraditional) celebration of Mike’s life on April 27. Masks and physical distancing are required. In lieu of flowers/gift, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://act.alz.org/site/Donation2?df_id=32112&32112.donation=form1&_gl=1*b5w35z*_ga*MTExNDgxNTgzMS4xNjE3NTgzNzk0*_ga_9JTEWVX24V*MTYxOTAxMjcwNy4xLjAuMTYxOTAxMjcwNy4w&_ga=2.235401413.599069118.1619012708-1114815831.1617583794).