The Catalyst - where do we go from here?

OTTUMWA — John Schlechter, 87, formerly of Ottumwa, died Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009 at the hospital in Prigen, Indonesia.He was born Nov. 24, 1922, on the tropical island of Billiton in Indonesia to Robert and Hermine Schlechter. He married Jane Marie Loupias on Oct. 12, 1950, in Djatinegara, Indonesia.John fought in the Dutch Royal Army during World War II and was a P.O.W. under the Japanese. He became a graduate art teacher in Holland, returned to Java, Indonesia, in 1951 to teach and write art training books, moved back to Holland in 1956 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1963.John retired as a junior high school art teacher from Ottumwa Schools. He also taught at Parsons college in Fairfield. He was a member of First Christian Church.He enjoyed creating surrealist paintings under the name of John Schlechter Duvall and reading books on Indonesian culture.John is survived by his second wife, Yuyun Sriningsih Schlechter of Surabaya, Indonesia; son, Robert Schlechter of Eagan, Minn.; daughter, Irene Fishburn (Glenn) of Cedar Rapids; son, Jerry Schlechter (Debbie) of Ottumwa; daughter, Bellina Buban (Paul) of Oskaloosa; daughter, Sofia of Indonesia; 11 siblings (whether alive and their locations are unknown at this time); grandson, Shawn Goudy (Tess) of Cedar Rapids; grandson, Joshua Goudy (Kelly) of Ottumwa; grandson, Christopher Goudy of Marion; granddaughter, Cecilia Schlechter of Des Moines; granddaughter, Natasha Jones (Chris) of Portland, Ore.; grandson, Travis Buban of Oskaloosa; great-grandson, Jack Martin Goudy of Cedar Rapids; great-grandson, Ben Matthew Goudy of Cedar Rapids; great-granddaughter, Faith Ann Goudy of Ottumwa; great-grandson, Grant Michael Goudy of Ottumwa; great-granddaughter, Michaela-Ann Schlechter of Ottumwa; great-grandson, Jackson Slater Jones of Portland, Ore.; great-grandson, Phoenix Paul Jones of Portland, Ore.; great-granddaughter, Hailey Buban of Oskaloosa.He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jane Marie Schlechter. Memorial service and burial was Friday in Prigen, Indonesia.In lieu of flowers, a memorial can to made to his wife, Yuyun and daughter, Sofia in Indonesia in care of Jerry Schlechter, 921 Lee Ave. Ottumwa, Iowa or to the Ottumwa Schools Art Dept. c/o John Schlechter Memorial Fund, 422 McCarroll Drive, Ottumwa, Iowa 52501.