Oscar Schaller
Oscar E. Schaller, 93, of Gays Mills, Wis., formerly of rural Wonewoc, passed away on Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, at the Sannes Skogdalen Nursing Home in Soldiers Grove. He was born Feb. 22, 1916, to Robert and Ethel (Hansbery) Schaller near Hillsboro where he grew to adulthood and attended the Hillsdale School, graduated from the Hillsboro High School and Madison Business College.
Oscar was united in marriage to Betty Erickson on June 14, 1941, in Stoughton. He served in the United States Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945. Betty and Oscar moved to their farm in rural Wonewoc in 1947, living there until 2008. She preceded him in death on Feb. 18, 2009.
He worked as a bookkeeper, dairy farmed, and later worked at the Union Center Farmers Union Co-op a few years before retirement. He was a very active community member as a board member of the Union Center Farmers Union Co-op, town of Wonewoc Board, Juneau County supervisor, Democrat Party, Juneau County and Hillsboro Historical Societies, Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni, Farmers Union, Farm Bureau and the United Methodist Church in Wonewoc, serving on various committees. Oscar had a longstanding passion for conservation. He worked to build and conserve the land he farmed. He won conservation awards with his farming practices, the Grassland Farming Award in 1950 and Juneau County Conservation Farmer of the Year in 1998. He also supported initiatives to preserve scenic landscapes and wildlife habitats. His interests and hobbies included history, travel and camping, following politics and local government. He was a great story teller, and a kind gentle soul who was congenial to all, including those holding different viewpoints.
Survivors include children, Pattie (Bob) Lind of Rice Lake, Vern (Rosemary) Schaller of Rhinelander, and Lynda (Lamar Janes) Schaller of Gays Mills; and grandchildren, Eric (Debbie) Lind of Atlanta, Ga., Catherine Lind of Chicago, Ill., Sarah Schaller-Bistodeau (Lucas Bistodeau) of Richfield, Minn., and Sheila (Joseph) Hein of Minocqua.
In addition to his wife, Betty; he was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Catherine Filler Hynek Liska.
Memorial funeral services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, at 1 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Wonewoc. A memorial gathering for family and friends will be held on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Picha Funeral Home in Hillsboro. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given for the Nature Conservancy. For online information go to www.pichafuneralhomes.com.