Deborah L. Schelhas Obituary

A private family gathering is being planned. Memorial Contributions may be made to Centrica Care Navigators, in c/o the funeral home.

Deborah Lynn Schelhas age 77 of Portage passed away Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Deborah was born in Detroit, MI, on March 18, 1949, the daughter of Joe and Shirley (Teceno) Naggi. On December 18, 1972, she married Peter Schelhas who survives her. Deborah received her bachelor of arts degree from Western Michigan University and her master's in business administration and finance from Loyola University. Deborah worked her way up the corporate ladder with Mead Data Central, first as a Sales Representative calling on law firms across the country. Her superior sales numbers resulted in promotions into management where her unique skills in sales and training methods resulted in her team leading the nation in sales multiple years. Deborah was a feminist. She was a founding member of the National Organization for Women (NOW) in the Detroit area. She recruited and trained many women in what, at the time, was a man's world. She and Peter moved many times across the country for business. They had many new homes and many new friends from Chicago to Seattle to Ft. Worth and finally Kalamazoo. Deborah was a social butterfly. She and Peter enjoyed ballroom dancing. She loved to cook and entertaining was a huge part of her life. Besides her husband, Deborah is survived by sisters, Pam Kelly and Lisa (John) Andary; nieces and nephew, Jennifer (Steve) Delano, Kristen (Robert) McFarland, Jamie Kelly, Mark Naggi; sister in law, Jane Schelhas; and many friends. Deborah was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Mark Naggi.