A celebration of life for Rhett L. Schlabach, 4, of Sarasota, FL, formerly of Kalona, will be held Monday, January 16, 2023, at 10:30 AM at the Fairview Mennonite Church in rural Kalona. Burial will follow at the Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday, January 15, from 2 – 7 PM at Fairview Mennonite Church. A general memorial fund has been established. Rhett went home to be with Jesus on Wednesday, January 11, 2023. The Beatty Peterseim Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Rhett Lynn Schlabach, known as Rhett Man to most friends and family, was born in Iowa City, IA on September 23, 2018, to Simon & Kayla Schlabach. He was the most calm, easy baby which was much needed with his 10-mo old sister Aria & 22-mo old brother Miles at home. He brightened every room he entered with his big blue eyes and sweet smile. His belly laugh was infectious, and he always loved to tell jokes and call people a “baby”. The family moved to Sarasota, FL in 2020 and he quickly made friends wherever he went. He loved chocolate ice cream, “opameal” (oatmeal) and mommy’s homemade bread. He loved to have fun with Miles & Aria but would often be found playing with his Paw Patrol toys by himself. There’s no such thing as a perfect child, but he was pretty close.
He will be greatly missed by his parents, Simon and Kayla, and his brother Miles and sister Aria, all of Sarasota, his maternal grandmother, Kim Gingerich of Kalona, paternal grandparents, Randy and Sheryl Hoyt of Kalona, maternal great-grandparents: Virgil and Barb Slabaugh and MaryAnna Gingerich of Kalona, paternal great-grandparents: Dale Widmer of Kalona, Duane and Chris Schlabach of Parnell and Ralph Hoyt of Scranton, IA, and 14 aunts and uncles and their families: Kelsie (Tyler) Hebl and Wrenley, Karson Gingerich, Keegan Gingerich (Karsen Jehle), TJ (Morgan) Hopkins and Collin and Kinsley, Kesha (Alex) Carlson and Meira and Melody, Josiah (Rosina) Hoyt and Leona and Henry, Jensen (Randy) Ropp and Tatum, Emery and Maren, Jesse (Collean) Hoyt and Sadie, Stryker, Sophia and Mia, Caleb (Raine) Hoyt, Elijah Hoyt, Hannah (Dakota) Boyse, Reid Schlabach, Avery (Andrew) Schwartz and Autumn Schlabach.
Preceding Rhett in death was his maternal grandpa Kermit Gingerich, and his paternal grandpa, Jeff Schlabach as well as several great-grandparents.
