Daryl Schlender

Daryl Schlender, of Stevensville, Michigan, left this world peacefully at his home on Friday, February 19, 2021. A private memorial service will be held Monday, March 1, 2021, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Service. Memorials may be made to Paws of Hope at www.pawsofhope.org or the Berrien Community Foundation’s Silver Beach Carousel Society, Inc., at www.berriencommunity.org/silverbeachcarousel. Those wishing to share a memory online of Daryl may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Daryl was born April 22, 1938 in St. Joseph, MI to Erdman & Elvira (Metz) Schlender. He graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1956 and then attended Lake Michigan College. Daryl was a charismatic and dedicated insurance agent for AAA Insurance for over 40 years, and he created many lasting friendships in the community. On July 15, 1978 he married Lynn Pelkey in St. Joseph. He was a local historian and author of three books: 3 Tales of a City: Historical Sketches of St. Joseph, Michigan, Silver Sands and Golden Memories: The History of Silver Beach Amusement Park, and Jacobia: The Erstwhile Dream of Henry William Jacobs. In his spare time, he enjoyed collecting Civil War, WWI, and WWII memorabilia, collecting classic cars, and fishing. He spent many years on the Lakeshore Youth Baseball Association Board of Directors while coaching and watching his sons play baseball. His greatest love in life was his sons and grandchildren. Daryl is survived by his wife Lynn Schlender; sons Jeff Schlender, Gregg (Lisa) Schlender, Brett Schlender, and Jared (Fiancée Sheyenne Delaney) Schlender,; three grandchildren Colette Schlender, Ava Schlender and Noelle Schlender; and siblings Margorie Ullrich, Marlene Walker and Dan Schlender. Daryl is also survived by his in-laws Kenneth and Connie Conklin, Cheryl Pelkey, David and Kim Fritz, and Terry and Sharna Pelkey. Daryl was preceded in death by his parents, his mother and father-in-law, Richard and Joan Pelkey, and a sister-in-law Karen Pelkey-Hillegas.