Antonia "Toni" Schlecht

Antonia "Toni" Georgina Schlecht, 84, of Tucson, AZ, passed away on January 5, 2023. Toni, as she was affectionately called, was born on February 7, 1938, in Taunton, England, the second eldest child of Percy and Henrietta Burnard.

In 1958, Toni embarked on an adventure to the World's Fair in Brussels with her younger siblings, Sally and Jim. Duane, a young American G.I. stationed in Germany, captured her beauty on film. Toni admonished him so he offered to send her the film. Exchanging addresses, they began corresponding by letter; soon they explored Denmark, Norway, and Sweden together. Eventually, Duane proposed to her over the telephone. Toni and Duane were married on December 19, 1959, in Midsomer Norton, England. Shortly afterward, Duane returned to Minot, ND, to find an apartment. Toni sailed on the HMS Queen Mary from England to New York City, then took a train to Minot to begin their new adventure. They were happily married for 63 years. Toni and Duane welcomed their son, Andrew, in 1962 and their daughter, Reinet, in 1963.

Toni was trained as a bookkeeper and held various positions in London and the United States, including banks, accountants, retail businesses, and a steel company. In the first 30 years of their marriage, Toni and Duane moved 14 times until settling in Tucson, AZ, in 1994, so she could be the business manager for her son's architecture practice. After semi-retiring, she returned to work at the Southern Arizona Children's Advocacy Center until retirement.

Toni and Duane loved to travel. Memorable trips included returning to Europe with their children twice and many camping trips all over the United States and Canada. Over the years, they took numerous cruises, making new friends all over the world.

Toni was a strong, tenacious woman with a dry sense of humor and a love for genuinely connecting with people, eager to strike up a conversation with strangers, whether at church, a restaurant, a grocery store, or the other side of the world. She had a clear sense of self—she knew who she was, what she wanted, and what she believed. She was never afraid to speak up, no matter the consequences.

Toni was an active and giving person. In her youth, she enjoyed ballroom dancing, tennis, and especially field hockey. She was never without a book to read and enjoyed crossword puzzles. She played Mexican train dominoes and cards with her friends and family. She was a great sports fan, especially for the University of Arizona men's and women's basketball and women's softball teams. Toni loved to bake, making homemade bread, fanciful birthday cakes, Christmas cookies, and the best pie crust on the planet. A gracious host, she would be sure to cook her guests' favorite foods. She sewed clothing for her young children and volunteered at the school for the PTA and Scouts. Very active at church, Toni served in many capacities, including teaching Sunday school, finances, and on church councils. After moving to Tucson, she was a passionate member of the Tanque Verde Lutheran Church Preschool Committee. At Desert Hope Lutheran Church, she volunteered in the office and ushered with Duane on Sunday mornings, rarely missing worship.

Her family rejoices that Toni is now on her greatest adventure, pain-free, walking and jumping and praising God, for death has been swallowed up in the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Toni was preceded in death by her parents, Percy and Henrietta Burnard, twin sister Jennifer Burnard, brother Jim Burnard (Amorn), sister Sally Ilott (Ted), and granddaughters Amanda Schmid and Melissa Houg Schmid (Anthony). She is survived by her husband, Duane, son Andrew Schlecht (Vallorie), daughter Reinet Schmid (Dacle), six grandchildren—Katharina Ayer (Kyle), Eric Schmid, Victoria Leon, Anthony Schmid (Angie), Jonathan Schlecht (Alex), and Elizabeth Schlecht—and five great-grandchildren—Kaedence Ayer, Alanna Leon, Korina Ayer, Rebekka Leon, and Emily Foixe—plus numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces here and around the world.

Many thanks to all the friends and pastors who have supported Toni and Duane, especially in the last few months, and to the medical staff and hospice care workers for their compassionate care.
The memorial service will be on February 4, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Desert Hope Lutheran Church in Tucson with Pastor Kent Groethe presiding. The service will be live-streamed at www.deserthope.org/worship-live-stream . In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Southern Arizona Children's Advocacy Center at www.cacsoaz.org/donate or the Shriner's Hospitals for Children at www.lovetotherescue.org .