JUANITA SCHINDLER BELIEVED, LIVED CONSERVATIVE CAUSES

JUANITA LOUISE SCHINDLER, a campaigner for conservative causes in Washington state and the nation, was a true believer.

She backed her belief in less government and lower taxes with action at caucuses and at state and national Republican conventions.

She had served on the board of Evergreen Freedom Foundation and was a treasurer of the national Pro America and past president of a local Pro America, which her daughter called a "conservative League of Women Voters."

"She was extremely passionate when it came to politics," said daughter BARBARA CAUSSEAUX of Puyallup. "When we were teens she told us, 'You don't think politics will affect you, but they do. If you don't get involved, you'll wake up one day and it will be too late.' "

Mrs. Schindler also helped with payroll and served on the board for the family electrical and sporting-goods firms.

She died Thursday (April 27) of cancer. Mrs. Schindler was 78.

Born in Grand Rapids, Mich., she moved to the Seattle area in the 1950s, then to Puyallup in the early 1970s. She had been active in politics and the family businesses, Nelco, Norco and finally Baden Sports, since her early days in the area.

She served as a precinct committeewoman and district leader.

"She'd sit near the phone during election week," said her daughter. "She was a wonderful resource who answered people's questions about the issues."

Mrs. Schindler campaigned for many candidates, including U.S. Rep. Jennifer Dunn, R-Bellevue, and former state Rep. Grant Pelesky, R-Puyallup.

"Juanita was wealthy but also down to earth and unshakeable in her belief in right and wrong," Pelesky said. "When the Legislature was debating whether to fund the baseball stadium, Republican caucuses supported it. Juanita loved baseball - the family sold sports equipment. But Juanita felt the stadium was a free-enterprise issue and that the line between free enterprise and government had been crossed.

"She was never impolite but made her point known."

Mrs. Schindler, along with her husband of 59 years, Ed Schindler, supported conservative causes and institutions throughout the U.S., said another daughter, PATRICIA HAIGH of Puyallup.

The couple were photographed with luminaries such as Ronald Reagan. Phyllis Schafly had stayed at their house.

They religiously attended their children's and grandchildren's sports and school events, and were proud when daughter-in-law Lynn Schindler was elected a state representative - Republican, of course - from Spokane.

Also surviving are children JAMES SCHINDLER of Spokane, DR. DAVID SCHINDLER of Washington, D.C., and MICHAEL SCHINDLER of Seattle; siblings ROBERTA CENTILLA of Kalamazoo, Mich., JAMES ESCH of Irons, Mich., LOUIS ESCH of Scotia, N.Y., and the REV. JOSEPH PETTIT of Grand Rapids, Mich.; 26 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

A Mass has been held. Donations may go to St. Mary's Catholic Church, 757 138th St. S., Tacoma, WA 98444.

THE SEATTLE TIMES, Seattle, Wash., Tues., May 2, 2000

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