Donald Stallard's Obituary
On Friday, November 25, 2022, Donald Lee Stallard passed away peacefully at the age of 76, surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by the love of his life and his high school sweetheart, Catharina Maria (Vander Schrier); children Neil (Leisa), Amanda (James) Lowe, and Nicholas (Rachel); grandchildren Paige, Preston, Riley, Jake, Ryker, Wilhelmina, and Vander; siblings Roy (Darlene), Debbie Olah, Jerry (Victoria), Michael (Julie), and Kathy Petrick. He is preceded in death by his parents, James and Ruth, brothers Jimmie and Stephen, mother and father-in-law, Jacob and Jozina Vander Schrier, and brother-in-law John Olah.
Donnie was born in Ermine, KY to James and Ruth Stallard on February 28, 1946. The men in his family were coal miners and tended their own livestock on farm plots nestled in hollers. Their houses were made by their own callused hands and the food was cooked with lard and love and they slept under down duvets filled with feathers after working from dawn to dusk. James and Ruth eventually made their way to the near west side of Cleveland, Ohio and completed their family with Donnie being the oldest of 8 rambunctious siblings - Roy, Debbie, Jimmie, Jerry, Michael, Kathy, and Stevie. There, he met John Olah, his lifelong friend and future brother-in-law. When Donnie was in in his early teens, the Stallard clan moved on up to W. 118th Street, Donnie attended high school at John Marshall, where he met a little blonde Dutch girl named Maria Vander Schrier. Donnie was a shy, skinny kid that was too embarrassed to make the first move, so Maria would tickle his ears until he blushed. Donnie and Marie were inseparable ever after. Don and Maria worked and put themselves through Kent State University. Don was in ROTC and was an active member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
Don married his "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" immediately after graduating in 1968 and began flight school as an officer in the United States Air Force. Don proudly served his country in the Vietnam Conflict, flying C-130s, C-123s, KC-135s, and other aircraft. While stationed at Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro, NC, Don and Maria welcomed Neil into the world. Don and Maria moved to Columbus, OH where both earned their Masters degrees at The Ohio State University. While still serving in the Air Force Reserves, Don began his civilian career working with various oil companies. During the "Blizzard of 1977," while living in Findlay, OH, Don and Maria were blessed with twins, Amanda and Nicholas. On to Plymouth, MI, then a few years in Spring, TX, with one final transfer in 1983 back to Northeast Ohio - also known as "home." In 1984, after refusing a transfer back to Houston, Don borrowed a little money from his father-in-law, leveraged his life savings, and started an executive search firm, Stallard, Schrier, and Associates. As an Air Force reservist, Don knew something about a contingent workforce, being ready willing and able to deploy when someone "Called out the Reserves." SSA quickly grew into The Reserves Network. Don built TRN into an industry leader with the help of many amazing people.
Don and the family business have received countless awards for growth, management, success and leadership including Inc. magazine Entrepreneur of the Year, Inc. 5000, Weatherhead 100, ERC's Top Workplaces, Northcoast 99, Best of Staffing and more. Don retired from the Air Force in 1989 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Don semi-retired from The Reserves Network in 2011. Neil, Nick, and Amanda carry on his values and legacy as the company continues to grow. Even while building a company, Don always made time for family vacations and the occasional boat ride on the "Temporary Escape." Don was the resident Stallard genealogy historian and it was important to him that his immediate and extended family carry on traditions and gatherings. Don is a giant, a self-made man, a leader of people, a caring husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, uncle, son, friend, boss, colleague and neighbor. The values Don instilled in his family and his company from the beginning (quality, reliability, integrity) are values he always lived by - he always gave his best effort, anyone could count on Don for anything, and he always did the right thing. These are shoes we should all strive to fill. Remember Don for his greatness as well as his goodness. We all are part of his legacy.
Visitation is Tuesday, November 29, 2022 from 3:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. at Sunset Funeral Chapel, 6245 Columbia Rd., North Olmsted, Ohio 44070. Funeral Services will take place on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at 10:00 A.M. at the chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family would kindly recommend a donation to a veteran-related charity of your choice.
TO JOIN THE LIVESTREAM BROADCAST OF THE FUNERAL SERVICES FOR DONALD STALLARD:
http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/81575/hash:E1F203040CA80B89
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