Douglas Leroy Schoenfeldt

It is with a very sad heart that I inform you that my best friend and husband of 54 years, Douglas L. Schoenfeldt, age 85, passed away in our home surrounded by loved ones, on February 13, 2022, due to complications of Covid, Dementia, Parkinson's and heart disease.  

Doug was born in Marinette, WI on March 26, 1936, to Louis and Othelia Schoenfeldt. He grew up on a farm in the Town of Grover and attended, Fifrick, a one room elementary school. He was an active member of the 4-H Club and did judging at the Marinette County Fair as he grew up. He went on to Peshtigo High School, where he was in track and went to State in Madison, WI (daughter Heidi Jo also went to State for track from Oshkosh West High School, as did granddaughter Bailey to State for track from Oshkosh West). After graduating from high school in 1954, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served from November 10, 1955, to October 18, 1957. He told me that some of his duties while in Germany were to send up weather balloons. After being honorably discharged he served in the Army Reserve for several years.

He started a job working for Lauerman Brothers Department Store in Marinette while attending the University of Wisconsin Extension Center, studying business accounting. His next job was a bookkeeper and accountant for Drees Livestock Yards in Peshtigo, WI, while taking a correspondence course from La Salle University. Upon graduating he accepted an auditing job in Oshkosh, WI at Kimball, Lamb and Reickman, a CPA firm. While working there he married Sheila Bair Drees on August 5, 1967, at St. John Lutheran Church in Grover, WI. We moved to Oshkosh, bought a home and raised our children: Sharon, Heidi, Brad and Dolly. His last job was working for International Papers where he retired from in 2002. 

Doug enjoyed playing cards with family and friends, gardening, working in the yard, listening to the waterfall in the pond while sitting on the deck with a cool one, and planting trees. Together we planted over 100 trees on our 7+ acre farmette we purchased and built our dream home on in the Town of Nekimi. We raised emus for many years here and Doug also had his guinea hens, along with several dogs and cats over the years. We participated in the Oshkosh Farmers Market on Saturdays. Our customers were very special to us. Three days a week we went to the Oshkosh YMCA and had many friends there, until the pandemic stopped us. Over the years we took many trips with and without our children. Whether by car, plane, or cruise ship we made a lot of lasting memories. Our favorite trip was to Switzerland. Doug also liked dabbling in the stock market and would spend many hours studying stocks online. He was very good at it. He loved going to church where he served as treasurer for four years, and hardly ever missed a Sunday until Covid.  

One blessing we have is that we will all be reunited in Heaven with our Heavenly Father and our family that went before us. He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Othelia Schoenfeldt; Carl and Julia Bair, James Bair and son, Brad Schoenfeldt. Survivors include wife, Sheila; daughters: Sharon (Arthur), Heidi (Ron), Dolly; granddaughters: Bailey, Maci, Lily; brothers: Roger and Rodney Schoenfeldt; nephew, Jeffrey Schoenfeldt; brother-in-law, George and MaryAnne Janquart; nephews, Chris and Geoff Janquart, a very friendly cat named JuJu; and many cousins.  

The service will be held at Living Water Lutheran Church, 1585 S. Oakwood Road, Oshkosh on Saturday February 26, 2022, with Pastor John Dorn officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 am until time of funeral service at 11:00 am. Inurnment will take place at Lakeview Memorial Park in Oshkosh at a later date.

We want to thank Valley VNA Senior Care, Danielle and Deb who provided caring and compassionate service to Doug for over three years. We also want to thank Aurora at Home Hospice workers and volunteers for excellent care and service.

We will always love you and miss you every day Doug.

Sheila and Family