Merrill Arthur Sischo III

MIDDLETON-Merrill "Corky" Sischo, age 78, passed away on Sunday, May 7, 2017 at Heritage in Middleton, with his family by his side.  He was born on December 17, 1938, in Wausau, the son of Merrill Sischo, Jr. and Arlene (Seiler) Sischo.  Corky was married to Brenda Bushmaker on April 14, 1962 in Wisconsin Rapids.  After graduating from UW-Stevens Point in 1963, Corky took a job at the Wisconsin Union in Madison, where he worked until his "first" retirement in 1995.  During his tenure, Corky led the design and construction of the original Union South in 1970 and was the founder of the Badger Bash at Union South in 1972, a Badger Football institution to this day.  Always fully engaged in life, Corky's many pursuits included flying, and serving as a National Ski Patrol member and a member of the Madison Curling Club.  Corky's lifelong passion was adventure and wilderness exploration.  He spent many years wilderness canoeing with his family and with groups through his "Escape to Wabakimi" outfitting business, where he introduced hundreds of people from all over the world to the magic of traveling by canoe.  After his retirement from the Union, Corky embarked on a second career, purchasing a "fly-in" fishing business in Ontario, Canada, and becoming a bush pilot.  He and Brenda owned and operated the camps until 2011.  The ice is leaving those Canadian lakes now, and Corky would be heading north.  We wish him safe travels on his final adventure.  He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Brenda; two children, Jeff (Pam) Sischo of Oak Creek and Sarah (Mark) McGuire of Minneapolis, Minn.; five grandchildren, Maddie, Caitlin and James McGuire of Minneapolis, Minn. and Jordan and Andrew Sischo of Oak Creek; a sister Sharon (Jerry) Feathers of Wausau and a very special brother-in-law John Bushmaker of Wisconsin Rapids.   A Celebration of Life will be held at MIDVALE COMMUNITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, 4329 Tokay Blvd, Madison at 11:30 AM on Saturday, May 13, 2017 with the Reverend Blake Rohrer presiding.  Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday from 10 AM until the time of the Celebration.  Memorials may be made in Corky's name to the Wisconsin Union. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.