Harry David "Fritz" Schaller, 97, formerly of Mendota, passed away peacefully in his home in Jacksonville, Florida on June 2, 2023.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church Te Deum Chapel with Vicar Anthony Windau officiating. Burial will be at Restland Cemetery, Mendota. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral. Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota is handling arrangements.

Harry was born May 11, 1926 in Mendota to Harry F. and Pearl (Faber) Schaller. After attending Mendota schools, Harry graduated from high school at Western Military Academy, Alton, Illinois and graduated from Purdue University in 1950. He married Inger Sandberg of Joliet, Illinois April 1, 1956. The Schaller's lived in Allentown, Pennsylvania from 1965-1992.

Harry was in the heavy equipment sales business: International Harvester Co., Truck Division, Branch Manager, Thew Shovel Co., Lorain, Ohio, District Manager; Crane & Shovel Sales; Mack Trucks, Inc., Sales Manager, Off Highway Truck Division; Orenstein & Koppel AG, Dortmund, Germany, Director of Major Account Sales, USA, selling hydraulic shovels, quarry trucks, and front end loaders. He was a member of The Presidents Council, Purdue University; Chairman, National Limestone Institute, 1979; Director, Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association, 1975; Director, American Road and Transportation Builders Association,1976-78; and a life member, Elks Lodge 1212, Mendota. He was active with the WK&S Railroad, Kempton, PA 1970-1982; the Mendota Museum & Historical Society, President of Union Depot RR Museum, 1995-2001 and Mendota Sweet Corn Festival Parade Marshal, 2004.

He is survived by his children Greta Bates of LaMoille and Kurt (Denise) Schaller of Jacksonville, Florida; grandchildren Kyle (Faith) Schaller, Christopher Scanlon, and Leslie (Jacob) Weber and two great grandsons, Caleb and Ethan Weber.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Inger in 2019 and his son in law Michael Bates in 2021.

Memorials may be directed to the Mendota Museum and Historical Society, PO Box 433, Mendota, IL 61342 or Mendota Cemetery Association, c/o Merritt Funeral Home.