Louis Schaner

Dr. Louis Joel Schaner, 89, died Wednesday, April 24, peacefully at home surrounded by his wife and four, adult children. “Louie,” as he was known to everyone who met him, was born to Dr. Morris and Minnie Schaner (Esterson) in his favorite town, Toledo, Ohio, on February 28, 1935. His father’s death in 1939 strongly affected his early life and served as a catalyst for his life’s path, which was to also become a physician. Louie would eventually graduate from The University of Toledo and then, the College of Osteopathic Medicine in Des Moines, Iowa. He completed his residency at Grandview Hospital in Dayton, Ohio before moving to Flint, Michigan in 1964 to begin his career in pediatrics. It was in Flint that he met the woman who would become the love of his life and the mother of his four children, Rita Schaner (Martin). They were married in Toledo in 1966.

In 1969, Dr. Schaner was recruited to Canton to be the first pediatrician on staff at Doctors Hospital. He moved his young family to Jackson Township and opened his practice, Stark Country Pediatrics (S.C. Pediatrics, Inc) in Perry Township the same year. In 1973, he became the first osteopathic physician to join the staff of Aultman Hospital and continued advocating for the advancement and recognition of other osteopaths throughout his career. In 1986, he expanded his practice to Alliance, merging with Pediatric Medicine of Alliance and Dr. James Witmer.  He and his partners maintained the two locations until he sold S.C. Pediatrics to Akron Children’s Hospital. He retired in 2015.  Dr. Schaner also served as the Medical Director for the Massillon City Health Department for many years and continued his service until 2018.

During his 50 years of practice in Canton, Dr. Schaner treated and saved the lives of thousands of children in Stark and its surrounding counties. He worked with a dedicated team of partners, nurses, and support staff throughout his professional life to serve others and trained countless residents and interns in the art of compassionate care. He loved his work and was always in service to the children and parents he treated with a kind and generous heart. Dr. Schaner was respected by the community and was committed to his life in Massillon and Canton. Former patients would often greet Dr. Schaner to let him know they remembered him, honored him, and loved him for what he had done for them and their children, which always left him deeply humbled. He received numerous honors from peers in Canton, but in 2014, was honored nationally when he was named “Community Pediatrician of the Year” by the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians.

Dr. Schaner was also an extremely proud American and Jew.  He came of age in the United States during the Holocaust and was the child of Russian and Polish immigrants. He was a congregant of all three synagogues in Canton, Ohio: Shaaray Torah; Temple Israel, and Agudas Achim and a generous benefactor of numerous Jewish foundations, causes and charities.

Louie was a funny, kind, joyous spirit who never took himself too seriously, which left an impression on everyone who crossed his path, even as he grew older. Most importantly, Louis J. Schaner was a steadfast father and husband who left a proud legacy for his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Rita L. Schaner, Ph.D (Martin); his four children, Dr. Marci Schaner; Dr. Morris Schaner (Ellen); Dr. Mark Schaner (Elana); and Michelle Schaner; and two grandchildren; Sophia Schaner and Levi Schaner. He is also survived by his sister, Sybil Greenberg (Schaner).

He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Dr. Morris and Minnie Schaner.

Funeral services will be Friday 11:00 a.m. in Temple Israel 432-30th St NW Canton 44709 with Rabbi David Komerofsky, Rabbi John Spitzer and Rabbi A.J. Kushner officiating. The burial will be in North Lawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to the National Crohns & Colitis Foundation (crohnscolitisfoundation.org).

His memory will forever be a blessing.

Please visit http://www.templeisraelcanton.org/schaner to live stream the service. 

Arnold-Canton 330-456-7291

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