Obituary of Thomas C. Schlappi

Thomas C. ''Tom'' Schlappi Catawba: Thomas C. ''Tom'' Schlappi, age 42, of Catawba, NC died unexpectedly Wednesday March 7, 2012 in Sherrills Ford, NC. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday (Mar. 13) at the Baird Funeral Home 36 Water St. Dundee, NY. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday (Mar. 14) at the Barrington Community Church, Old Bath Rd. Dundee; with Rev. Gerald Vanaman officiating. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers the family graciously requests memorial contributions be made to the Thomas Schlappi Memorial Fund c/o Commscope Credit Union P.O. Box 199 Catawba, N.C. 28609. Thomas was born December 27, 1969 in Penn Yan, N.Y., the son of Peter C. and Bonnie Westervelt Schlappi. He graduated from Dundee Central School in 1988; and from SUNY Morrisville with an Associates Degree in Business in 1990. Tom started his working career in the family business at the age of 12, and was a partner in Knapp & Schlappi Lumber Company Inc. from 1991-2007. On May 10, 1997 in St. Michael's Church, in Penn Yan, NY he married the former Cara L. Stryker. They moved to North Carolina in 2007, and he accepted a position in the engine tear down department of Rousch-Yates Engines; where he worked until 2009. Most recently he was using his natural bred talent as a Sales Expert at Lowes, Home Improvement in Denver, N.C. Tom was a former member of the Penn Yan Elks B.P.O.E. #1722, and the Barrington Rifle Club. In his spare time he treasured the time spent with family hunting and 4 wheeling on the family farm; and as a devoted Pittsburg Steelers and NASCAR fan. He is loved and will be dearly missed by his wife of 14 years Cara L. Schlappi; 2 daughters Kathryn E. "Katy" and Meghan L. Schlappi all at home in Catawba, NC; his father Peter C. (Pat) Schlappi of Dundee, NY; his mother Bonnie Schlappi of Interlaken, NY; 2 sisters Tammy (Steve) Perry of Dundee, Sue (Ron) DuBeau of Royal Palm Beach, FL; a dear brother in law Craig (Barb) Stryker, and In-laws Carl & Brenda Stryker all of Sherrills Ford, NC; several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins; and his "Best Buddy Ever" Gus. Online condolences can be sent by visiting www.bairdfuneralhomedundee.com.