Daniel W. Schelcht

Dan Schlecht died May 16th, 2012 at Seasons of Life Hospice House in Woodruff, after suffering an aortic aneurysm. Daniel Webster Schlecht was born July 11, 1917 in Minocqua to Dr. Carl Christian and Mary "Mame" (nee Schmitz) Schlecht. He arrived minutes after his twin brother, Henry Clay Schlecht. The attending physician was Dr. Thomas Torpy. The Schlecht family was one of Minocqua's earliest settlers, having homesteaded in 1890 in the area now known as the Schlecht Lake and the Schlecht Ski Trail. Dr. Carl C. Schlecht began his dental practice in Minocqua in 1906, and his office was located where the Polecat and Lace is today. Dan and his family moved to Ashland, Wisconsin in 1922, where his dad practiced dentistry. Dan and his brother Hen liked to dive off the log booms in Lake Superior (though they could not swim) and attend all day Saturday cowboy movies for a nickel. The family returned to Woodruff in1930. Dan attended grade school in Woodruff and Ashland. He attended high school in Minocqua. In 1932, in his sophomore year, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) located at Post Ghost in Hayward. Upon completion of his time in the CCC's, he returned to his class. After high school Dan lived the Northwoods dream--fishing, hunting, trapping, riding his motorcycle, and spending time at his favorite place, his family's hunting cabin, affectionately known as "the shack". He liked to go to dances and "hang out" with his friends. Dan was drafted into the Army on February 4, 1942. After training, Dan was assigned to the 821st Aviation Engineer Battalion. He was stationed on the Fiji Islands in the Pacific Theater, where he cleared jungles and built airfields. A highlight of this time was when his battalion was visited by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, which made a lasting impression on Dan. In 1944, he was chosen to join the Army Air Corps. He passed his flight exams and completed his college courses at Mississippi State College in Starksville, Mississippi and then completed his pilot training at Curtis Field in Mission, Texas. He completed his advanced training at Randolph Field in San Antonio, Texas. The war ended prior to Dan being shipped overseas as a fighter pilot. He was discharged on November 8, 1945. Returning to Woodruff, he married Helen Marie Schlezewske on October 15, 1946 at St. Patrick's Church in Minocqua. The couple had one daughter, Marsha. Dan and Helen spent all of their 64 years together residing in Woodruff. Dan was self-employed as a mason contractor and was the main bricklayer on the former Lakeland Memorial Hospital. In 1966, he became a salesman for Sedlak Chevrolet. He later would be employed by Bob Matz Motors and Dave Marston Motors. Dan was active in his community. He was the sole surviving cast member of the Big Baby Revue, a fund raising project of the Arbor Vitae-Woodruff Lions club, which raised funds for the construction of the former Lakeland Memorial Hospital. He was very active in the Lakeland area PTA Stunt Nights held in the 1960s to raise scholarship funds for Lakeland Union High School students. He was a past member of the Woodruff Fire Department, having served as chief for a brief time. He was also involved in the Trapp/Gehrke Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was a member of The Madsen/Empey American Legion Post 89. Dan was an avid outdoorsman and loved fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, golfing, and water skiing. Later in life, he enjoyed reading, doing puzzles, and telling stories of the past. His most cherished times were spent with his brother, grandsons, nephews, and dear friends at their hunting shack, known as Camp Little Big Horn, a property bought by their dad in the early 1920s. There was no finer place in the world that Dan loved to be. His thousands of stories and experiences throughout his rich life will live on in those who knew and loved him. Dan was preceded in death by his loving wife Helen; his parents; and his sisters: Katherine "Kay" Schlecht Maynard, Marguerite "Marg" Schlecht French Miller, and Nan "Biddo" Schlecht Steinberger Pleasant. He is survived by his twin brother Henry Schlecht, Minocqua; daughter Marsha (Mike) Doud, Minocqua; grandsons Jon (Lindsay) Bast, Wausau; Mike (Heidi) Bast and their daughter, Marin, of St. Michael, MN; nieces, nephews, cousins, and many dear friends. He also cherished all of his dogs, most recently Lucy. Visitation will take place at Bolger Funeral Home in Minocqua at 10:00 a.m. on May 26, 2012, with a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. Military honors will be provided by Madsen/Empey Post 89. A luncheon and gathering will follow at the American Legion Hall. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Dr. Kate Hospice, P.O. Box 770, Woodruff, WI 54568.

Daniel W. Schelcht

July 11, 1917 - May 16, 2012