William "Bill" Schams

William “Bill” G. Schams passed away at Mayo – La Crosse on Saturday March 24, 2018. He was born in La Crosse on May 20, 1934, to William J. and Matilda (Gilles) Schams.

Bill was one of nine children who grew up on a dairy farm on St Joseph Ridge. He graduated from Aquinas High School in 1952. He married his high school sweetheart, Shirlee Knutson, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in La Crosse on April 24, 1954.

Bill acquired an agricultural equipment dealership from his father in 1956 and later it became St Joseph Equipment. The business grew into numerous locations in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Bill was a great mentor, listener and teacher to all who worked for him. Customers found him to be fair, honest and a man of integrity. He loved farming and spent his spare time operating equipment on his multiple farm operations. Bill enjoyed tractor pulls, operating machinery, traveling, golfing, and the Packers.

Bill is survived by his wife Shirlee; their children, Steven Schams (Christine), Charles Schams, Sherry Wuebben (Tim), William L. Schams (Courtney), Lori King (Rich), and Larry Schams (Jeanette); grandchildren, Jacob Schams (Kristin), Stephanie Jastrow (Stephen), Benjamin Schams, Kevin Schams (Alexandra), Bridget Schams, Morgan Schams, Mellisa Allen (Patrick), Aaron Wuebben, Michelle Wuebben, Ryan Schams (Robyn), Kelly Schams (Cody Pfennig), Erin Schams, Shelbi Stumlin (Jake), Christopher Marx, Carrie Rein (John), Ally King, and Allison and Gabriel Schams; Great Grandchildren, Andrew and Lucas Schams, Jocelyn and Audrey Jastrow, Jack and William Allen, Hazel and Zeke Schams, Jaxton and Kenton Rein; and siblings, Donald Schams, Joanne Arneson (Richard) and Paul Schams (Judy).

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Ralph Schams, Gerald Schams, Louise Bahr, Jeanette Longmire, and Vincent Schams; brothers-in-law, Bernard Bahr and Max Longmire; sisters in-law, Louise Schams, Carol Schams and Lois Schams; and grandson, Samuel “Sammy” Schams.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 5:30 p.m., on Wednesday, March 28 ^th , at St Joseph Ridge Catholic Church, W2601 Highway 33, La Crosse, with Msgr. Robert Hundt officiating. Burial will take place in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery at a later date. Family and friends are invited to a visitation from 2:30 p.m. until the time of service. Following the service, a dinner and celebration of Bill’s life will be held at Fox Hollow Banquet Hall, Barre Mills, Wis.  Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society or the Aquinas Foundation in Bill's memory