James Schlatter Obituary

Major James Donald "J.D" Schlatter USAF (Ret), 79, passed away on Thursday, May 3rd, surrounded by his family. J.D. was born on May 2nd, 1928 in Gary, Indiana. He earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Indiana University and a master's degree in zoology from Kansas State University. J.D. served a long and distinguished career in the Air Force. He was stationed throughout the world and settled in Colorado Springs, where he was a professor of life sciences at the Air Force Academy. After retiring from the Air Force, he taught hospital safety at Colorado Technical University for 20 years. In 1953 he married Caroline Woods. J.D was devoted to his family and fathered five children. An avid volunteer in the community, he became an honored Red Cross volunteer. He was an active member of the Sertoma Club, participating in community events and raising charitable funds. J.D was a true horse lover and was one of the original members of the Cavalier Trail Riding Club. He was a long-time and loyal member of St. Michael the Archangel Episcopal Church in Colorado Springs. Survivors include his sister Rosemary Molson and brother Bob Schlatter; children Don Schlatter of Parker, Gary Schlatter of Denver, Dorothy Bjorlo of Ft. Collins, Caroline Gill of Loveland, and Rosemary Schlatter of Florissant; his former wife; eleven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. J.D. fought a long battle with Huntington's Disease. He will be dearly missed by the many who knew and loved him. His devotion to his family, his church, his community, and the wellbeing of all he met are matchless. Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, May 9th at 2 p.m. at St. Michael the Archangel Church at 7400 Tudor Rd. in Colorado Springs. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Schlatter Research Foundation at the Huntington's Disease Society of America (hdsa.org).