Leroy Schiller

Services for Leroy Adolph Schiller, 70, of Zabickville, will be 10 a.m. Friday, January 27, at Ocker Brethren Church in Zabcikville with Mark Sebeck and Richard Cortese officiating. Burial will follow in Ocker Cemetery.

To conquer death is to live in glory with God and family. In celebration of life, Leroy Schiller conquered death on January 24, 2017 and joined his Savior and his family in glory.

Leroy was born to Ernest and Leona Schiller in Rosebud, Texas on April 8, 1946. As a baby boomer post WWII, like so many others, he hit America running and never stopped running. He lived in Zabcikville, Texas on the family farm and graduated from Rogers High School in 1964. He entered Tarleton State University in 1964, and continued there until 1967, when he entered the Texas Department of Public Safety Police Academy, graduating and becoming a Texas State Trooper stationed in Houston, Texas. He returned to Bell and Coryell County in 1968, and continued as a state trooper for 28 ½ years before his retirement in 1995. He earned an Associate Degree from Central Texas College in 1970, and his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Mary Hardin Baylor in 1972. Leroy went on to earn his Master of Science in Criminology from the University of Central Texas in 1980.

Leroy married Karyl B. Schiller in April 1977 at Ocker Brethren Church, where he was a member since childhood, and had a celebration in the tractor shed at the farm. It rained 4 inches that day which made the crops reach toward the heavens in celebration. Leroy and Karyl lived in Temple until moving to the farm in 1993. Their children, Carrie, Amy, Kevin, Kent, and Kelly shared in the maintenance and operations of the farm and livestock until they all grew up with careers of their own. Leroy and Karyl worked their rental property and Karyl taught in Temple ISD and Killeen ISD for 46 years, in addition to working as a UIL Sports Official for over 40 years.

Leroy loved public service, but his real passion was being a dirt farmer. Throughout his life, he farmed with his parents and brother, Weldon, on their blackland Zabcikville farm. Many days, he would leave early to plant the crops or harvest til 4 pm, come home, wash off the farm, put on his trooper's uniform, and work the safety of the highways and roads of Bell County til 1:00 am, and then do it all over the next day til it rained or the crops were planted or harvested. For his family, there was no greater satisfaction than to cheer the growing crops or the sustaining rain. When his parents passed away within 8 months of each other, Leroy and his family moved to Zabcikville from Temple and continued to farm the land. With their two strong boys and Kelly, the farm work continued. When Leroy and Karyl went to the field, so went the kids, fondly known as the "work for food" crew, and everybody worked til the job was finished!!

Leroy was a lifetime resident of East Bell County's Czech community where the traditional music and fellowship abounded. He was proud of his heritage and founded the East Bell County Bohemian Brass Band and Barbecue Society band in 1968 while playing for the Lions Club Follies. Through this group of musicians, Leroy entertained so many with polkas, waltzes, and just good old country music, as he was a master trumpet player and pianist. Since his band played for the barbecue at the parties, they played often and attracted the attention of Clem Mikeska, who soon featured them in his float in the Belton July 4th Independence Day parade and in the Temple Christmas Parade for 48 years. Leroy and his band entertained thousands every year through the streets of Belton and Temple.

Leroy was heavily involved with county and state service during his working years. He was a member of the Republican Party of Bell County, and was a voting delegate to the State Republican Convention in 2000. He was a member of the Central Texas Peace Officers Association, the Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association, the Texas State Troopers Association, the Texas State Highway Patrol Association, and the National Troopers Coalition. He held a Master Peace Officer Certificate from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education. On the community level, Leroy served on the East Bell County Water Supply Corporation Board of Directors. He worked for the East Bell County Youth Boosters Association, and was active in the Rogers ISD Athletic Boosters Association, Band Boosters and the Parent Teacher Organization. Leroy was a life member of the SPJST Lodge #47 at Seaton Star Hall, and the Bell County Youth Farmers Association as well as the Farmers' Mutual Protective Association of Texas, the Germania Farm Mutual Insurance Association, the Texas Farm Bureau of Bell County, Production Credit Association, and the Temple Chamber of Commerce. With all of this, his greatest joy was his family and the farm.

In keeping with his dedication to Bell County, Leroy ran for public office in 1996 as County Commissioner Precinct #3 and was sworn into office in January 1997. He served as County Commissioner for 8 years, retiring in 2004, and then served as the Bell County Tax Appraisal Liaison officer from 2005 - 2013. Leroy served on the Bell County Bail Bond Board as Chairman, the Bell County Health Facilities Development Corporation, the Bell County Agricultural Development Corporation, Industrial Development Corporation, the Child Welfare Board, and the Bell County Loss Control Team, the Salvation Army Advisory Board, the Hill Country Community Action Board, the Bell County Committee of the Texas Veteran's Land Board, and the Temple Reinvestment Zone Board #1, and the Heart of Texas Boy Scouts Citizen of the Year Presentation.

Leroy was awarded the Temple Jaycees Trooper of the Year Award, the Temple Knights of Columbus Trooper of the Year Award, and Texas FFA Long Star Farmer Degree, the Bell County Sheriff's Department Certificate of Appreciation Award, the VFW Voice of Democracy Awards Citation, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Mary Hardin Baylor. He was also the Texas State Honor Guard Representative to the National Memorial Service for veterans held in Washington, D.C. in 1992.

Leroy had many interests such as farming and ranching, boating and water sports, but his favorite thing to do was to "toot his horn" or play his electric piano and sing. He was an accomplished Bugler and Trumpet Player as the leader and founder of the East Bell County Bohemian Brass Band and Barbecue Society and the Clem Mikeska Barbecue Band. He made music with the Seaton Brass Band in East Bell County and played with the Gentries Country and Western Band during and after high school. With his musical talents, he provided many patriotic presentations across Bell County for the Temple, Rogers, Belton, and Troy ISD DARE Programs, the Temple Youth Softball Association local and state competitions, the Rogers Youth Softball Association, the 1995 Republican Party of Bell County Fund raiser with Texas Governor George Bush, Jr., the funeral service for Texas Governor John Connally, numerous Memorial Day Services, and Texas State Conventions and Conferences. Leroy helped to lay to rest many fallen Texas State troopers as a member of the Texas Department of Public Safety State Honor Guard, and veterans and friends by trumpeting TAPS at their final services. His very favorite presentation was done at Ocker Brethren Church for the Veterans of War on Veterans Day and the sunrise services on Easter Sunday at Ocker Church.

Leroy is survived by his wife of 39 years, Karyl; two sons, Kevin and Lindsey Schiller of College Station and Kent and Monica Schiller of Mineola; three daughters, Carrie and Tim Walsh of San Francisco, California, Kelly and Dennis Arnold of Academy, and Amy Schiller of Honolulu, Hawaii; his brother, Weldon and Diane Schiller of College Station; sister-in-laws, Janice and Charles Douglas of Belton, and Helen Bomar of Belton; ten grandchildren, Elizabeth and Cooper Schiller, Lilly, Bella, Neva, and Rosalie Schiller, Mason and Aubrey Walsh, and Kylie and Drew Arnold; nephews, Evan Schiller, Kory and Lauren Douglas, and Will and Emma, Curt Bomar, Casey and Penny Bomar and Steven and Shelbi; nieces, Jeffri, and John King, and Sydney, and Addison, Ashley and Kyle Cox, and Camden, and Kori, and Jill Douglas. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and all his aunts and uncles.

Leroy burned the candle at both ends and in the middle. His philosophy was to live life to the fullest as a full and participating member of his community, state, and nation. Leroy believed life is a gift from God, and what you do with it is your gift to God, so he wasted no time being idle. He cherished his family and his farm and provided for and protected them both. It's pretty easy to take the farmer off the farm, but near impossible to take the farm out of the farmer. On this day, we can hear the tractor cranking up as Leroy sows the crops of heaven, patiently awaiting the rains, and looking forward to the harvest, blowing his trumpet for the heavens, and playing his piano singing Amazing Grace!

Visitation will be from 6 - 8 p.m. Thursday, January 26, at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Temple.

Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Temple is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation

HarperTalasek Funeral Home
500 W. Barton Ave.
Temple, TX  76501
Thursday, January 26, 2017
6 - 8 p.m.

Service

Ocker Brethren Church
17454 SH 53
Zabcikville, TX  undefined
Friday, January 27, 2017
10:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Ocker Cemetery
17454 State Hwy 53
Temple, TX  76501