Walter Schrage
Walter “Wally” Schrage of Peters Township, 77, passed away Tuesday, March 27, 2018, after a seven-month battle with cancer.
Born and raised in Chicago, a son of Walter and Lillian Bracken Schrage, Wally thoroughly enjoyed his early childhood years in Chicago’s South Side as part of a large, extended family before moving to the suburb of Edison Park in his teens. A 1958 graduate of Taft High School, Wally attended Loyola University Chicago before starting work at Park Ridge Country Club, where Wally met his future wife, Nadine, whom he married October 20, 1962, in St. Juliana Church, Chicago. That same year, Wally made a fortuitous decision to switch to the coal industry, joining a subsidiary of Consolidation Coal Co. Wally and his family moved to Peters Township in 1970. Wally had a distinguished career with Consol that spanned 37 years before retiring in 1999 as Consol’s executive vice president of international sales.
Wally was not well-suited to retirement and, soon after, joined in partnership with former colleague, Ben Statler, to assist in the development of a new coal company, PinnOak. PinnOak quickly established a leadership position in the metallurgical coal business and was eventually sold to Cleveland Cliffs Inc. After the sale of PinnOak in 2008, Wally did officially retire. Many of his former colleagues and clients continued to be an important part of his life into retirement. Up until his death, Wally organized regular get-togethers for a group of former colleagues known as the “ex cons.” Throughout his business career, Wally developed a true passion for travel. In his life, he traveled to every continent in the world, visiting hundreds of the largest cities. After retirement, he and Nadine continued to explore many exotic countries up until the onset of cancer last fall.
An avid golfer, Wally was a longtime member of Valley Brook Country Club, where he served many years on the board. He also served on the board of directors for Little Lake Theatre and Oberlin College. Wally was an accomplished gourmet cook and loved to cook for family and friends. He enjoyed listening to opera and attending theater productions. As a devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle and cousin, Wally, more than anything, loved spending time with his family. A strong and generous soul, Wally embraced each and every day and instilled his passion for life and adventure to his family. Wally’s deep and never-ending support and love for family and friends will be truly missed by all.
Wally was the loving husband of Nadine Walters for 55 years; beloved father to Kevin (Sharon) of Lake Tahoe, Calif., Elizabeth of Canonsburg and the late Elaine Schrage Ligas; brother to Pat (Joe) Panarale, the late Judy (Klaus) Schubert and Rick (Ambie) Schrage; brother-in-law to Andrea (Nick) Fritz; adoring grandfather of Andrea, Austin, Joseph, Alex and Anne; and cherished uncle to many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in Beinhauer Funeral Home, McMurray. Funeral service will be held at noon Thursday, April 5, in sanctuary of Christ United Methodist Church, 44 Highland Road, Bethel Park, followed by interment at St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church Cemetery on Irishtown Road. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to GI Research Fund of Dr. Nathan Bahary at Hillman Cancer Center or Little Lake Theatre in Canonsburg.