Oscar Schaller

Oscar E. Schaller, age 93 years, of Gays Mills, Wisconsin and formerly of rural Wonewoc, passed away on Monday, November 2, 2009 at the Sannes Skogdalen Nursing Home in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin. 

He was born on February 22, 1916 to Robert and Ethel (Hansbery) Schaller near Hillsboro, Wisconsin 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 U.S. 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 February 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, Democratic 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.  They won Conservation Awards with their farming practices, 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 storyteller, 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 four grandchildren, Eric (Debbie) Lind of Atlanta, Catherine Lind of Chicago, Sarah Schaller-Bistodeau (Lucas Bistodeau) of Richfield, Minnesota, and Sheila (Joseph) Hein of Minocqua, Wisconsin.  In addition to his wife, Betty, he was preceded in death by his Parents and a sister, Catherine Filler Hynek Liska.