Bishop Stanley G. Schlarman, 91, of Belleville, IL, born July 27, 1933, in Belleville, IL, died Monday, April 28, 2025, at Brightly Senior Living, Mascoutah, IL.
Bishop Schlarman was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Belleville by Most Reverend Luigi Traglia at St. Alexis in Rome, on July 13, 1958.
Bishop Schlarman obtained his Master of Education degree, with a concentration on counseling and guidance, from St. Louis University in St. Louis, MO. After his ordination, Bishop Schlarman served as an Associate at the Cathedral of St. Peter in 1959 and in the fall became an Instructor at Mater Dei Catholic High School in Breese, IL. In 1963, Bishop Schlarman served as director of the Don Bosco Latin School for prospective seminarians in Chicago. In 1965, he served as a Counselor at Mater Dei and in 1968 became the principal. While at Mater Dei, he did catechetical work and ministered to children with neurodivergent diagnoses at the Warren G. Murray Developmental Center in Centralia, IL. In 1972, he served as Chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital in Breese while also serving as Administrator of St. Rose Parish in St. Rose. In 1975, he was appointed Pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Cairo.
On March 13, 1979, Pope John Paul II appointed Bishop Schlarman as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Belleville, IL where he served until 1983. He was later appointed as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Dodge City in Kansas on March 1, 1983, serving there until 1998.
Bishop Schlarman returned to the Diocese of Belleville in May 1998. From 1999-2000, Bishop Schlarman was Temporary Administrator of St. Liborius Parish in St. Libory and St. Anthony Parish in Lively Grove. From 2003-2006, he served as Vicar for Priests in the Diocese of Joliet. From 2006-2015, he served as Vicar for Priests in the Diocese of Belleville and volunteered in Prison Ministry. Bishop Schlarman retired from active ministry in July 2015. During his ministry in the Diocese of Belleville, he was the founding director of the Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) program, a member of the diocesan mediation board, the Priests Personnel Board, and the Senate of Priests.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Cletus and Dorothy, nee Lindow, Schlarman; and a brother, Thomas Schlarman.
He is survived by two sisters, Sister Patricia Schlarman, ASC, and Catherine (Jack) Knight; his sister-in-law, Rosalie Schlarman; and many dear nephews and niece: Sean Knight, Patrick Knight, Tom Schlarman, Steve Schlarman, and Erica Kniffin.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Daystar Community Program, Cairo, IL; Our Brothers Keepers; or the Society of St. Vincent De Paul. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 1, 2025, and from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Friday, May 2, 2025, at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Belleville, IL. Reception of the body will be at 3 p.m. by the Very Reverend Kenneth J. York, Vicar Forane.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 p.m. on Friday, May 2, 2025, at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Belleville, IL, with Bishop Michael McGovern presiding.
Burial will be at Green Mount Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, IL.
