William F. Schomberg

William F. Schomberg, age 87, was born February 17th, 1933, the son of Melvin and Violet (Schild) Schomberg.  Bill passed away from this life and was reborn into Eternal Life on December 24th, 2020.

At a young age, Bill learned to love the outdoors and agriculture by being involved on his family farm with 4-H and Future Farmers of America that helped set the course of his life to become a farmer specializing in swine and seed stock production.

He was a member of the West Salem High School Class of 1950. During his high school years, he was on two state- championship judging teams that also represented Wisconsin at the National American Royal in Kansas City. He also won a Silver Award in livestock and a Gold Medal in meat judging. Bill went on to attend and graduate from the University of Wisconsin Farm Short Course. These experiences led him to become a prominent and dedicated farmer with his livestock. In these fields, he won yield awards, especially in corn production.

In 1953, Bill was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Donna Mae Knudson.  They built a life together on the bedrock of Faith, family, and core values.  This great marriage was blessed with six children who all learned the values of education, hard work, Faith and family.  Bill and Donna showed family and friends what a loving and dedicated marriage looks like and what it can produce.

Bill’s great passion in agriculture centered in livestock production, especially raising purebred swine.  He was one of the founders and the first president of the La Crosse Interstate Fair Junior Livestock Sale.  He served three terms as director of the Wisconsin Pork Producers and as the director and president of the Wisconsin Swine Testing Board.   In 1986, Bill was named Seed Stock Producer of the Year by the National Swine Improvement Association. Time was also spent as director and president of the Wisconsin Berkshire and Hampshire Associations. In 2003, he was presented with the “50 Year Award” for exhibiting at the Minnesota State Fair for 50 years. The American Berkshire Association awarded him the distinguished service award.  Also, in 2011, the Wisconsin State Fair named him a member of the Wisconsin Swine Breeders Hall of Fame.  However, the honor that gave him the most satisfaction was being awarded the first ever “Master Seed Stock Producer” by the Wisconsin Swine Breeders Association.

Bill was active in many organizations including serving his country in the United States Army of which he was very proud.  Always interested in education, Bill served as president of the Parent/Teacher Association for nine years and as president of the school board for five years in the West Salem School District. He was also a long-time member of the West Salem Rotary Club where he served in a number of roles.  As a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church, he served on the church council and president of the congregation. His longest tenure of local service was thirty-eight years on the Board of The Union State Bank of West Salem where his last meeting was a week before he became ill.

Bill and his wife Donna loved traveling and visited several countries around the globe and to all 50 states as they camped and enjoyed the land of scenic places and farmland areas. Twenty-five years were spent enjoying the beautiful Arizona winter weather where Bill could invest in his lifelong pursuit of reading books, especially historical novels.  There was not a time in his life when he wasn’t in the middle of a book.  During retirement from farming, he also enjoyed shuffle board, hiking, golfing and playing poker with friends.

But his greatest enjoyment was being a proud grandparent.  Bill loved keeping up with the varied activities of all his 20 grandchildren and 15 great- grandchildren who continued to impress him throughout the years with their many talents.  He often shared the importance of Faith with his family and prayed for each of them every day. Bill’s priorities during his life here were Faith, Family, and Friends...in that order.  Those priorities will continue in his New Life.

Bill is survived by his wife Donna of 67 years, his children: Colleen Mulder, Doug and Sue (Hermans) Schomberg, Cheryl (Schomberg) and Steve Sprecher,  Tom and Nancy (Molitor) Schomberg, Bob Uebele, Wade and Kris (Tollefson) Schomberg, Grandchildren: Jared Mulder, Sarah (Mulder) Buxton, Matthias Mulder, Samantha (Schomberg) and Aaron Wojnowiak, Leah (Schomberg) and Josh Barr, JoAnnah (Sprecher) and Todd Sorg, Mitchell and Elizabeth (MacNamara) Sprecher, Dominic Schomberg, Audra (Schomberg) and Gino Peterson, Dana (Schomberg) and Jacob Harrington, David Schomberg, Julia Schomberg, Nathan and Ally (Emberson) Schomberg, Daniel Uebele, Laura (Uebele) and Caleb Jahr, Mandy Uebele, Michael Uebele, Jesika Schomberg, William Schomberg and Krista (Klumb), and Rebekah Schomberg. Great grandchildren: Kylie Mulder, Tate and Sullivan Mulder, Logan and Louis Wojnowiak, Jaelyn, Tenley and Tatum Sorg, Asher, Camden and Holland Peterson, Elliana and Ezeriah Jahr, Adelaide Uebele, and Rachel Schomberg, Brother and sister -in- law, Fred and Betty Schomberg, sister Carol Indahl, brother-in-law Gene Drecktrah, sister-in-law Harriet Knudson and many nieces, nephews and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents Violet (Schild) and Melvin Schomberg, parents in law Effie and Anker Knudson, sister Mary (Schomberg) Drecktrah, daughter Marla (Schomberg) Uebele, son-in-law Robert Mulder, and granddaughter-in-law Catherine Mulder.

The family wishes to thank Bright Star Health Care who assisted Bill in his health during his last months at home, St. Croix Hospice for their exceptional care during Bill’s final days, to Pastor Schultz for his frequent visits, prayers and gospel readings which Bill appreciated and valued.  And thanks to the excellent quality health care team at Gundersen Health in La Crosse, especially Dr.Siddiqi, who became his friend.

A private family funeral service will be held at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church of Barre Mills. Pastor Andrew Schultz will officiate. Burial with military honors will follow in the church cemetery. A Celebration of Life for Bill will be held at a later date and will be announced by the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. John’s Lutheran Church of Barre Mills, Disabled American Veterans or directly to the family, who will distribute them to the aforementioned charities.

A Celebration of Life for family and friends will be held for Bill on Sunday, August 22, 2021 from 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM at the Fox Hollow Banquet Hall, N3287 County Road OA, La Crosse.