- Date Of Birth: May 7, 1942
- Date Of Death: May 13, 2019
- State: Michigan
Chris was born on May 7, 1942, to Albert C. and Cornelia (nee VanBoven) Schauer in Kalamazoo, MI. A resident of Kalamazoo virtually his entire life, Chris graduated from Kalamazoo Christian High School and Western Michigan University, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting.
In 1967 he earned the Certified Public Accounting designation and worked for Ernst & Ernst for almost 10 years as an auditor. During his tenure with Ernst & Ernst, he served in the firm’s National Office in Cleveland writing training programs for the first three levels of auditors throughout the United States and Canada. In 1974, he joined Clausing Corporation as Vice President Finance and Secretary, later becoming President and Chief Operating Officer. In 1986, following a sale of Clausing to the 600 Group of London, England, Chris became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Clausing and joined the Board of Directors of the 600 Group in London, serving in that capacity until 2000. Chris was only too pleased to tell of his many adventures during those years of making over 150 trans-Atlantic flights to attend Board meetings in England. In 1999, Chris joined Triple S Plastics, Inc. as its Chief Executive Officer and continued with that firm following its merger with Eimo of Finland. Following retirement from Eimo in 2002, Chris joined with several local scientists in forming PharmOptima, serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Chris married the former Phyllis Schiedel on April 27, 1962, a bond that has endured nearly 57 years. The two attend Calvary Bible Church in Kalamazoo and First Baptist Church of Naples, Florida. Over the years he served as Deacon, headed various church capital campaigns, and served on Boards and various advisory groups for the Kalamazoo Christian School Association. Chris also served as a Trustee at Kalamazoo Valley Community College for 15 years and was recently Chairman of Hope Network in Grand Rapids. He served on various corporate Boards over the years including Griffith Laboratories, Inc., Durametallic Corporation, Triple S Plastics, Clausing Corporation, The Windquest Companies, The 600 Group, and Z-Seven Fund.
Some of Chris’ favorite times were with the family at their home in Florida. Especially missed will be his steady good humor and exceedingly quick wit. Chris enjoyed time with his amateur radio station, holding the Amateur Radio Extra Class license of K8ICE.
Chris is survived by his wife, Phyllis; and children, Timothy (Cathy) Schauer of Kalamazoo, and daughter Vicki (Todd) Waldron; and grandchildren Brittany Waldron, Natalie Waldron, Ethan Waldron, Nick (Mary) Oliver, Jonathon Schauer, and Meredith Schauer.
