Wayne 'Bill' William Schiller

Wayne William 'Bill' Schiller, age 74, of La Grande, died April 26, 2015 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A celebration of life was held Friday, May 1, 2015 at Daniels-Knopp followed by a burial with military honors at Grandview Cemetery.

Bill was born on July 2, 1940, the son of William Arthur and Mae (Hilbert) Schiller, in Pinewald, New Jersey. He attended schools there and was baptized in the Lutheran church. He joined the United States Army on July 24, 1957 when he was 17 years old. He served in Vietnam in the 119th First Calvary as a helicopter door gunner and was involved in the rescue of ground patrol at the Battle of Hamburger Hill. He was honorably discharged on February 2, 1968. He traveled extensively around Asia before moving to Thailand where he owned and operated Paradise Bar and Bungalows for 20 years until selling it and returning to the United States in 2007.

Over his lifetime he was married four times, first to Edda Ilnseher, then Pensi Schiller, then Mary Kathleen Kramer and lastly Ratee (Nang) Chalee. He led an adventurous life and loved sharing his stories with others. He spoke fluent German and Thai. He loved rock and roll and had a keen sense of humor and enjoyed making people laugh.

Survivors include his children, Dawn Schiller of La Grande, Terry Schiller Curtiss of La Grande, Wayne William 'Bill' Schiller, Jr. of La Grande, Kirk William 'Jack' Schiller of Bangkok, Thailand, Alicia Schiller Lawlor of Portland, John Schiller of La Grande and Jenny Schiller of La Grande; sisters, Georgia Lee Harper of Oakland, California and Melissa Jaycox and Suzanne Callen, both of New Jersey; twelve grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, niece, Vanessa Jaycox, and an infant brother, Neil.

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