Alexander E. Schlais

Alexander E. Schlais, 21, of Superior, WI, died Wednesday, September 7, 2022, at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth, MN.

He was born in Duluth on May 22, 2001, the son of Ken and Barbara (Lind) Schlais and grew up—along with an older and a younger sister—in Superior, WIS. An energetic and adventurous youngster, he was often seen riding his bike all over East End Superior with his friends from Great Lakes Elementary school.

Alex’s involvement in organized sports started as soon as he could swing a baseball bat and continued through his middle-school years, playing with the Superior Youth Baseball Organization. He also participated in youth football, beginning with flag football with the YMCA and moving up to the “big kid” tackle version with the Superior Youth Football Organization. While attending Superior Senior High School, he was a member of the Spartan wrestling and track teams and played defensive end on the Spartan football team. He also enjoyed competing in organized youth basketball games, Saturday-morning youth bowling leagues at Village Lanes, and archery contests, both in middle school and in high school. He loved competing and enjoyed the camaraderie among his teammates. Win or lose, he always tried to be a good sportsman.

Alex had a love of music and, following his older sister Amanda’s lead, he joined the orchestra in middle school, choosing the string bass as his instrument.  He played very well—without hardly trying, it seemed—and later, as a member of the Spartan concert orchestra, he was chosen to be the Section Leader of the bass players. By his example, he inspired his younger sister Abby to join the orchestra as well, once giving her advice to “bow with confidence”.

Alex liked having money in his pocket and was willing to work for it. He mowed lawns and shoveled sidewalks as a middle schooler and got his first “real” job working part-time at McDonalds in Superior at the tender age of fifteen. He moved on to another part-time job at Dunkin Donuts in Duluth, where he stayed for over a year. After graduating from high school in 2019, he tried a few other “real” jobs before taking a job in the building construction trade as a suspended ceiling installer. The job led to his being accepted into the Carpenter’s Union Local 361 Apprentice Program. He was in the third year of the program and working as a ceiling specialist with Sonus Interiors on the Essentia Health project in Duluth at the time of his passing. Every employer he worked for considered him a valued employee.

Alex loved the outdoors and, as a youngster, spent many pleasant hours and days trailer camping with his family at campgrounds in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota.  As an adolescent (older and more able to carry stuff), he and his father annually paddled their canoe across the remote lakes in the BWCA, sharing the wilderness experience with family members in other canoes.

Alex was a beautiful baby, an exuberant child, and an adventurous adult. He didn’t have a “mean bone” in his body. He loved his family and friends and was loved by all who knew him. He strove for perfection and hated when things were unfair. He was charming and had a contagious smile and awesome hair. His beautiful brown eyes were a window to his soul. He had a great sense of humor and a quick wit.  He had an unlimited supply of hugs and really cool high fives.

Alex was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother Gail Schlais, maternal grandmother Judy Lind, and cousin Elizabeth Schlais.

Alex is survived by his parents; sisters Amanda and Abigail Schlais; half-sister Kelsea Peterson; grandparents Ed and Kelly Schlais, Paul Lind, Linda Lind; aunt Elizabeth Mayne; uncles Bryan Lind, Vince (Jennifer) Schlais, Steve (Bobbi) Schlais, Brian Schlais; cousins Katelyn, Lukas, and Derek Mayne, Samantha, Susan, and Kevin Schlais, Heather Lancour, Stephanie Schlais, and Tyler, Andrea, and Jordan Schlais; nephews Ethan Wills and Mateo Valencia; niece Emory Peterson; special friend, Teighan Collins, extended family and many friends.

Visitation will begin at 12:00 PM, Friday, September 16, 2022, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 1924 Wyoming Avenue in Superior, and will continue until the 2:00 PM Funeral Service with Pastor Sarah Kerkes officiating.

Pallbearers for the service will be Alex Ely, Landon Lathrop, Lars Root, Lukas Mayne, and Derek Mayne.

The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital who attended to Alex during his final hours on this earth. Their compassion and consideration helped make a very difficult time less painful.

The Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home, 1209 E. 5 ^th Street in Superior, is assisting the family with arrangements. To leave a condolence or sign the guestbook, please visit www.lenroot-maetzold.com . Thank you for your kind words and prayers.