Joseph Donald Schlaerth, Jr.

Joseph Donald Schlaerth, Jr., age 62, of Newburgh, IN, passed away Thursday, June 22, 2023, at his home.

Joseph was born December 7, 1960, in Buffalo, NY, to Joseph Donald Schlaerth, Sr. and Sally Gallagher Schlaerth. He graduated from Amherst Central High School in 1978 and earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Buffalo. Joseph was the News Director for 14 News WFIE in Evansville for eight years. Before coming to Evansville in 2015, Joe worked for nearly 15 years at WIVB in Buffalo, starting as Producer, moving up to Executive Producer and finally to News Director for 10 years.

Joe enjoyed swimming laps in his pool and the company of his dog, Toby. Mostly he loved being with his children and watching them grow. A broad smile would cross his face as he talked about their many accomplishments.

Joe’s newsrooms were perennially successful, almost always #1 in every time slot. He and his teams won multiple Emmy, Edward R. Murrow, National Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi awards just to name a few. The Indiana Broadcasters Association declared 14 News the 2018 Station of the Year. 14 News is currently nominated for an Emmy award for News Excellence because of Joe’s leadership.

Joe always insisted on an unwavering commitment to the highest journalistic and ethical standards. He painstakingly searched out and found the very best talent possible to bring onto the 14 News team so that the station would carry on its legacy of news and weather leadership in Evansville.

Joe was a former President and longtime member of the New York State Associated Press Broadcast Board, an adjunct professor at Buffalo State College (State University of New York), and served on the American Red Cross Leadership Council, Southwest Indiana.

Joseph is survived by his wife of 23 years, Vicki Ehrenberg Schlaerth; twin children, Aurora Paige and Joseph Donald Schlaerth: sisters, Katherine Curriden (Scott) of San Diego, CA, and Sharon Sharth (Mark Bryan) of Arcadia, CA.

Joseph is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Sally Jo Schlaerth, who passed away in 2014.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 7:00 p.m. CST, Thursday, June 29, 2023, at Methodist Temple, 2109 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, IN with Pastor Randy Moore officiating. Burial will be private.

A Live Stream will be available beginning twenty minutes prior to the service time. Please visit www.Boonefuneralhome.net, select Joe Schlaerth’s obituary, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click Live Stream.

Boone Funeral Home East Chapel – A Family Tradition Funeral Home, 5330 Washington Avenue, Evansville, IN, is handling the arrangements and is honored to serve the family of Joe Schlaerth, Jr. Condolences may be made to the family online at boonefuneralhome.net

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joseph Donald Schlaerth, Jr., please visit our floral store.