James C. Schacker, 93, the founder and original owner of Viking Electric Supply, passed away on July 6th. He founded the company in 1964 and led Viking Electric Supply until the sale of the company to Sonepar 20 years ago.
According to his obituary at www,memorials.muellermemorial.com, he is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary E. Schacker and his three children, Gregory J. Schacker (Suzan), Mary Christine Schacker Hennessy, and Timothy W. Schacker (Kristin). Jim has five grandchildren; Bryant Joseph Hennessy, Jayme Hennessy Piandes, Laura Jansen, Jacob Schacker, Samuel Schacker, and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Christian Henry Schacker and Mary Baylor Schacker and sisters, Sarah Jane Walker and Mary Louise O’Neil.
Schacker enlisted in the U.S. Air Force the day after he graduated from St. Thomas Military Academy (class of 1944) and after World War II attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA. He started his long career in the electrical industry with General Electric as a salesman and then worked for Price Electric in St. Paul. His obituary said he was an accomplished pilot and loved nothing more than spending time in the air and spending time with his grandchildren. Schacker was devoted to his Catholic faith and his passion for helping those in need. His family asks that donations in his name be directed to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 330 Exchange Street, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55102.