Dr. Carl S. Schlageter

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Dr. Carl Schlageter, MD—known to family, friends, and generations of patients simply as “Doc”—lived a life devoted to caring for others, serving his community, and living out his faith. Born December 29, 1936, in Centralia, Illinois, to Carl Frederic William Schlageter and Lillian Daisy Schlageter, he carried those values with him throughout his life.

In 1941, Carl moved with his family to Sparta, Illinois, the town that would shape his life and ultimately become the community he served for decades. As a student at Sparta High School, he was active in band, chorus, drama club, and speech, and he proudly became a member of Sparta’s very first National Honor Society.

In 1954 he attended the University of Illinois in Champaign, where he was a member and Vice President of the Theta Xi fraternity. He graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Medicine and Zoology. That same year he married his Sparta sweetheart, Patti Slayden, beginning a lifelong partnership filled with love, family, and shared purpose. Carl continued his training at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago from 1958 to 1962, completing his internship in Springfield, Ohio. During that time, he also completed the ROTC program as a Second Lieutenant and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army. In 1963 he served at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and was called to active duty in the Medical Corps as a Captain. He was honorably discharged in 1965 with commendations.

Later that year, Dr. Schlageter returned home to Sparta and began practicing medicine as a family practitioner and surgeon. It was a decision he never regretted. For 36 years he cared for the people of Sparta and the surrounding communities, often treating multiple generations within the same families. He loved the relationships that came with small-town medicine and believed deeply in the human connection between doctor and patient.

When he retired in 2002, he said what he would miss most was “the interaction with people, the bantering with patients, the interaction with colleagues. To be a successful family doctor, you’re going to have to like interacting with people. Throughout his career, Dr. Schlageter achieved Diplomate status from the American Board of Family Practice. He served as Chief of Staff at Sparta Community Hospital, was nominated by the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians for Physician of the Year and served as President of the Southern Illinois Medical Association.

Outside of medicine, Doc’s life was filled with music, friendship, and service. A devoted member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, he served as an elder and sang in the church choir. He also sang with the Sparta Community Chorus and played the piano beautifully. He loved tennis and fishing with friends and maintained a long love-hate relationship with golf.

Known affectionately as “Papa Doc,” by his family, he loved traveling, entertaining, and sharing life’s moments with Patti, their daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His warmth, humor, and generosity created a lifetime of cherished memories.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Patti; daughters Kathy (Rob) Wilson and Mary Beth (Andy) Simon; grandchildren Carl Wilson (Stephanie), Zack Wilson (Lily), Rachel Wilson (Ricki), Miranda Simon, and Morgan Simon; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his two sisters.

Doc loved the Lord and believed his work as a physician was a form of ministry.

“A doctor’s faith in himself and faith in the Creator should emanate from him and bring comfort.”

A memorial service celebrating Dr. Schlageter’s life will be held April 12 at 2:00 p.m. in the Hoosier Village Chapel in Zionsville, Indiana (46077).

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children at donate.shrinerschildrens.org. Checks (in Memory of Carl Schlageter) may be mailed to: Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607