Peter Sebastian Schillace , 87, formerly of Columbia City, passed away on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at his home with family by his side.

Born on June 29, 1936 in North Collins, New York, he was the son of first-generation Italian immigrants, Joseph L and Rose Marie (Constanza) Schillace.

Peter joined the U.S. Navy on September 27, 1954.  He served aboard the USS Dixie in the Korean War.  He was honorably discharge on August 31, 1959.

On March 23, 1957, he married the late Judith (LaFever) Schillace.  After leaving the military, Peter went on to be a maintenance supervisor at Fort Wayne Structural Steel.  He was also president of the United Iron Workers local 726.

Peter is survived by his sister, Joanne Jermain of North Collins, New York; children, Anthony (Wanda) Schillace of Columbia City, Peter (Sara) Schillace II of Fort Wayne; grandchildren, Nathaniel and Corey Schillace of Columbia City, Mackenzie (Paul) Sanders of Columbia City; and great grandson Andrew Schillace of Palm Coast, Florida.

The funeral service is at 4 p.m. Sunday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City with military honors. Visitation is from 2 p.m. until the service Sunday at the funeral home.  The ashes of Peter and Judith are to be joined and scattered in Niagara Falls, New York at a later time

In lieu of flowers, preferred memorials are to the VFW #3846, Churubusco or the American Heart Association.