Age 43 of Getzville, NY, fought valiantly with ovarian cancer. She gained her angel wings and peacefully joined her father on Thursday August 24th, 2023.
Beloved wife of 9 years to Jeffrey R. Smith; loving mother to Autumn and Graham; dearest daughter to Karen J. Gentry (Koch) and the late Mark E. Gentry; sweet grand-daughter to Janice K. Koch; caring sister to Kiel Gentry (Jina) Gregory Gentry (Jessica) Emily Krantz (Daniel) Amie Gentry (Louis) Carrie Gentry (Johnathan); daughter-in-law to Richard and Gail Smith; sister- in-law to Richard Smith II (Laurie) Bonnie Lorentz (Brian); Kate loved being an aunt to all her nieces and nephews (total of 19); also survived by aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends. Family will be present to receive relatives and friends Saturday, September 2nd, 2023 from 1pm-5pm at DENGLER, ROBERTS, PERNA FUNERAL HOME at 8630 Transit Road East Amherst NY 14051. A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kate’s children, Autumn and Graham. Fond memories and condolences may be shared at www.denglerrobertspernafuneral.com.
Joseph Donald Schlaerth, Jr., age 62, of Newburgh, IN, passed away Thursday, June 22, 2023, at his home.
Joseph was born December 7, 1960, in Buffalo, NY, to Joseph Donald Schlaerth, Sr. and Sally Gallagher Schlaerth. He graduated from Amherst Central High School in 1978 and earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Buffalo. Joseph was the News Director for 14 News WFIE in Evansville for eight years. Before coming to Evansville in 2015, Joe worked for nearly 15 years at WIVB in Buffalo, starting as Producer, moving up to Executive Producer and finally to News Director for 10 years.
Joe enjoyed swimming laps in his pool and the company of his dog, Toby. Mostly he loved being with his children and watching them grow. A broad smile would cross his face as he talked about their many accomplishments.
Joe’s newsrooms were perennially successful, almost always #1 in every time slot. He and his teams won multiple Emmy, Edward R. Murrow, National Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi awards just to name a few. The Indiana Broadcasters Association declared 14 News the 2018 Station of the Year. 14 News is currently nominated for an Emmy award for News Excellence because of Joe’s leadership.
Joe always insisted on an unwavering commitment to the highest journalistic and ethical standards. He painstakingly searched out and found the very best talent possible to bring onto the 14 News team so that the station would carry on its legacy of news and weather leadership in Evansville.
Joe was a former President and longtime member of the New York State Associated Press Broadcast Board, an adjunct professor at Buffalo State College (State University of New York), and served on the American Red Cross Leadership Council, Southwest Indiana.
Joseph is survived by his wife of 23 years, Vicki Ehrenberg Schlaerth; twin children, Aurora Paige and Joseph Donald Schlaerth: sisters, Katherine Curriden (Scott) of San Diego, CA, and Sharon Sharth (Mark Bryan) of Arcadia, CA.
Joseph is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Sally Jo Schlaerth, who passed away in 2014.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 7:00 p.m. CST, Thursday, June 29, 2023, at Methodist Temple, 2109 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, IN with Pastor Randy Moore officiating. Burial will be private.
Joseph D. Schlaerth Jr., 62, award-winning former news director at WIVB-TV
Joe Schlaerth had just guided the TV news department he directed to the nomination for an award – an Emmy for News Excellence – when he died unexpectedly June 22 in his home in Newburgh, Ind., a suburb of Evansville. He was 62.
Since the early 1990s, Mr. Schlaerth had regularly achieved high honors as a broadcast journalist. During nearly 10 years as news director at WIVB-TV in Buffalo, he and his teams had collected several of them.
The station’s coverage of the crash of Flight 3407 in 2009 brought him two national Edward R. Murrow Awards.
He also received two National Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi awards – one in 2007 for an interview with Lynn DeJac Peters after she served 13 years in prison on a wrongful conviction for the murder of her daughter, and one in 2012 for an investigative series on bullying in schools and online.
Born in Buffalo, one of four children, Joseph Donald Schlaerth Jr. was the son of J. Don Schlaerth, radio-television columnist and TV Topics editor for The Buffalo News, and Sally Gallagher Schlaerth, head librarian at The News.
“I’ve always loved television news,” he told News TV columnist Alan Pergament in 2005. “I remember sitting there with my father, my mom and sisters watching the (casualty) numbers from Vietnam. When I was in school, I rushed home to watch the Watergate hearings. I always had the media bug.”
A 1978 graduate of Amherst High School, he worked his way through Erie Community College and the University at Buffalo. He was a bartender at a racquetball club and a hopper for The News, jumping off trucks to deliver bundles of newspapers to carriers and stores.
He was a year away from graduating from UB when he landed a job in 1985 as an intern at WIVB after another intern didn’t show up for work.
Mr. Schlaerth went on to become assignment editor, then was co-creator and first producer of “Wake Up!,” the station’s morning program, which gained top ratings.
He had similar success as producer and executive producer of news programs at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. He was WIVB Employee of the Year in 2001.
“He’s done it the right way and the hard way,” WIVB anchor Jacquie Walker told Pergament after Mr. Schlaerth was promoted to news director in 2004. “He’s a journalist through and through and knows what’s important in news in this community.”
Under his guidance, WIVB won New York State Emmy Awards for documentaries on Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown in 2006 and development of Buffalo’s waterfront in 2007. The station won three regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for investigative coverage in 2013-2014.
His tenure ended in July 2014, a year after the arrival of a new general manager who was unhappy to see the station’s newscasts slipping in the ratings.
He went on to become news director for WFIE, an NBC affiliate in Evansville, ranked 107th among the nation’s TV markets. Under his leadership, it was named Station of the Year in 2018 by the Indiana Broadcasters Association.
“He insisted on an unwavering commitment to the highest journalistic and ethical standards. Joe painstakingly searched out the very best talent possible,” WFIE anchorman Randy Moore said after his death.
He was former president of the New York State Associated Press Broadcast Board, a board member of the Associated Press Broadcasters Association, a former adjunct professor of broadcast journalism at what was then Buffalo State College and served on the American Red Cross Leadership Council, Southwest Indiana.
Survivors include his wife of 23 years, Vicki Ehrenberg Schlaerth, an occupational therapist; twin children, Aurora Paige and Joseph Donald III; and two sisters, Katherine Curriden and Sharon Sharth.
A celebration of his life was held June 29 in Evansville.
Dr. Robert Lee Conschafter, a chiropractor for 60 years, died July 6 following a short illness, four days before his 93rd birthday.
He had continued seeing patients in his office on Harlem Road in Cheektowaga until he was 90.
Born in Buffalo, the younger of two boys, he was the son of Dr. Victor S. Conschafter and Mildred Weber Conschafter. His father, a chiropractor with a clinic on Humboldt Parkway, developed a visualizing device to help treat spinal problems.
He played drums in the marching band at Amherst High School, where he graduated in 1948, and was right tackle on the school’s undefeated football team his senior year.
At Bowling Green State University in Ohio, where he earned a degree in 1952, he played in the Army ROTC marching band and was corresponding secretary of his fraternity, Sigma Chi. He and a classmate, Joan Thompson, were married Dec. 27, 1952, in Cleveland.
Commissioned as an Army officer when he graduated, he served as an intelligence officer in I Corps Artillery with the 159th Field Artillery Battalion in the Korean War and attained the rank of first lieutenant.
Returning from service, he enrolled at his father’s alma mater, Palmer Chiropractic College in Davenport, Iowa. Both he and his older brother William became associates in their father’s clinic.
Dr. Conschafter was a former vice chairman of the board of New York State Chiropractic College, now Northeast College of Health Sciences in Seneca Falls, and a member of the New York State Chiropractic Association, District 17, and the New York State Chiropractic Council, District 8.
He received an outstanding service award from the Regents of the State of New York Board of Chiropractic in 1997. He also was honored as Chiropractor of the Year in 1994 and was given the Pioneer Award in 2013 for his service to the profession.
A Clarence and Amherst resident since the early 1970s, he was a member of the Park Country Club for more than 50 years and captain of the usher team at Calvary Episcopal Church. He also a member of the Crystal Beach, Ont., Tennis & Yacht Club for many years and the Buffalo Yacht Club. He was a former member of the board of directors of the Kiwanis Club of Buffalo.
In addition to his wife, a retired Williamsville elementary school teacher, survivors include two sons, Jeffrey and Bradley; a daughter, Sally Porter; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Another son, Dr. David Conschafter, who had a chiropractic office in his father’s building, died in 2017. His brother William died in 1992.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. July 29 in Calvary Episcopal Church, 20 Milton St., Williamsville.
Webster: 9/16/1954-6/29/2023. Predeceased by parents, William and Ruth Kloesz; in-laws, Steve and Margaret Bobak; brother-in-law, Brett Bobak. Survived by girlfriend of 51 years and wife of 43 years, Debra; children, Coral (Glen) and Cole (girlfriend Chelsea); siblings, Gary (Elise), Wendy (Jimmy), and Lori, (MJ). A special thanks to his sister Wendy, who was by his side for his last moments.
Scott enjoyed his many roles, including being a technician at Kodak. He was quite sad to witness the management driving the company into the ground. He made many long-lasting friends from work. They played horse shoes every Monday night for years.
Scott and Debra made quite a pair, enjoying many activities. Coral, Daddys Girl, arrived 13 years after marriage. Cole came 6 years later to complete the family. He treasured the time spent being a dad. Scott was extremely proud of his badass children.
His siblings are fun and always provided Scott with love and support. There were many family gatherings, a favorite being Christmas Eve at Gary’s. Scott shared a special bond with all of Debra’s siblings, with her mother calling him her “7th child”.
Scott loved all of his dogs. The first girl was a wedding present and picked up on the way home from their honeymoon. 3 more dogs to follow, all loved as part of the family.
Scott suffered from cancer for several years. From the moment he was diagnosed with his cancer, he refused to let the disease control him or defeat his spirits. He was grateful for his oncology team, Dr. Hezel, Chelsea McCaig, and Hannah Lundgren. Donations can be made to the Wilmont Cancer Center.
There will be a celebration of life for Scott at a later date.
James William “Jim” Keller, of Richmond, Texas passed to Heaven at the age of 80 on June 2, 2023, at Houston Methodist Hospital after 30-year battle with heart disease.
Born on May 7, 1943, in Buffalo, New York, Jim graduated from Amherst Central High School in 1961 and from Valparaiso University in 1965 with a BS in Civil Engineering. Jim started his professional career in South Bend, Indiana as an assistant city engineer. He moved to design engineering as a branch office manager in Toledo, Ohio, Glens Falls, New York and Laconia, New Hampshire.
Jim arrived home in Houston, Texas in 1978 as a manager of a large engineering consulting firm. Houston gave Jim opportunities in design, industrial service, and land development. He managed projects for various cities, county, state, federal and international entities. Jim Keller was a registered professional engineer in five states. His expertise was wanted by the city planning and zoning boards where he lived. He spent 14 years on the Missouri City, Texas Planning and Zoning Commission including four years as Chairman.
In 2006, Jim retired from civil engineering to pursue his passion for sculpture. Jim created sculpturesof wood, bronze, stainless steel, and resin. Jim’s works are on public display across the country, including locally at Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Jim was an active and passionate member of Memorial Lutheran Church of Houston, Texas. He attended 7:30 a.m. Bible Study for 20 years and served on committees and an usher for many years.
Jim served the Houston Stock Show and Rodeo on the Calf Scramble Committee, 4 years as Vice Chairman.
Jim had just returned on Friday, May 26th from Wyoming, and Yellowstone National Park completing his bucket list of seeing all 50 States.
Jim leaves a legacy through the words of wisdom touched thousands of individuals driving by the sign at 212 Jackson Street in Richmond, Texas for countless years.
Jim is survived by his wife of 19 years, Rebecca Beard Junker. Jim had no children but was accepted by Becky’s family as their own. He is also survived by his stepson Eric Junker and wife, Amanda, of Sugar Land, Texas, his granddaughters, Adeline and Audrey Junker, of Sugar Land, Texas, whom he adored with all his heart. They will miss their “Jim” so much. Jim’s family also included in-laws Sidney and Sandy Beard, Bonnie Beard, and Tommy Beard; nieces and nephews, Mason Sydow, Sidney Drew Beard Wendy Bell and Kristin Morgan, and their children, Sophie, Owen, Avery, Austin, Makayla, Piper, Harper and Myles. Jim was predeceased in death by his parents Ruth Marie Fischer Keller and Harold Claire Keller of Snyder, New York. And his sister in-law Amelia Jo Beard.
Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, June 15, 2023, at Memorial Lutheran Church, 5800 Westheimer, Houston, Texas 77057. Visitation at 10 a.m. and Funeral Service 11 a.m. Jim will be laid to rest at 2:30 p.m. at the historic Brown-Beard Cemetery on Cummings Road, Needville, Texas (near Brazos Bend State Park).
Pallbearers serving are Clarence Kamba, David Duthu, Eric Junker, Sidney Beard, Mason Sydow and Zack Lambert. Services are under the direction of E.P. Compean Funeral Directors, 1223 6 th Street, Rosenberg, Texas 77471.
In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations may be made to any of the following: Memorial Lutheran Church & School, 5800 Westheimer, Houston, Texas 77057, Concordia Theological Seminary, 6600 North Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825, or Valparaiso University for the benefit of the Civil Engineering Department. 1700 Chapel Drive., Valparaiso, Indiana 46383.
Tiger Tracks 