Donald John Schatz of Enumclaw, WA, went to Heaven at age 74 on Nov. 25, dying from Lewy Body Disease/Alzheimer’s. He was born on October 12, 1944 in McIntosh, ND to Anton A. Schatz and Agatha A. Materi-Schatz. He graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1963 and then joined the army serving as a medic till 1966. He married Linda Laura Miller-Schatz on Nov. 9, 1968 in Seattle, WA. They lived in Auburn, WA prior to moving to Enumclaw, WA in 1978.
He was a Cement Mason for over 30 years with Local 528, retiring from Gary Merlino Construction. His retirement lasted only 6 months when he had become a referee in Pierce County for the WIAA Basketball Referees on the o season when he was not a seating host for the Seattle Mariners working over 10 years at Safeco Field till his retirement in 2014 at the age of 70. He loved being a son, brother, husband, father, grandpa, and friend. He shared his love of sports with his family and friends, and loved playing baseball, basketball, softball, billiards, and belonged to a cribbage club for several years in the Pierce County area. He was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Enumclaw, WA and a Eucharist Minister in the 1980’s and 1990’s. He later joined St. Barbara Church in Black Diamond, WA.
Donald was preceded in death by his daughter Nina Marie Schatz on May 23, 1969 stillborn, and wife Linda Laura Miller-Schatz on May 27th, 2013. Donald was survived by ve of his children: Andrew Edward Schatz of Marietta, GA; daughter and son-in-law Sonya and Justin Cottrell of Enumclaw, WA; daughter and son-in-law Staci and Robert Jorgenson of Olympia, WA; son Donald Schatz Jr. of Greenwater, WA; and daughter and son-in-law Lindsey and Christopher Bettencourt of Buckley, WA.
He was survived by his 10 grandchildren: Jade, Emma, Logan, Cole, Ava, Lilly, Zoey, Dexter, Violet, and Atticus. Donald is survived by his 3 sisters: sister and brother-in-law Anna and Robert Waitt of Surprise, AZ; sister and brother-in-law Gloria and Bob Schaefer of Buena, WA; and Kathy and David Reed of Tricities, WA.
Funeral is at Tahoma National Cemetery located at 18600 SE 240th St., Kent, WA 98042 on Thursday, Jan. 10 9:45 a.m. sharp with memorial gathering following in Enumclaw, WA at VFW Post 1949, 44426 244th Ave, SE Enumclaw, WA 98022, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
