John Clyde Schuette

MONONA- John Clyde Schuette, age 73, passed away Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, after a hard-fought battle against bone marrow cancer.  

Born in Madison, Wis., to Myrth and John F. Schuette, John grew up in Bettendorf, Iowa. His childhood was spent enjoying the outdoors with his neighborhood buddies, and many boyhood adventures centered on Duck Creek.  

As a teen in Iowa, John discovered two lifelong passions - sailing and downhill skiing - and continued both into his 70s.  His family joined the Lake Davenport Sailing Club, racing their C Scow on the Mississippi River and later traveling to regattas throughout the Midwest.  Years later, John and his wife, Barb, joined the Lake Monona Sailing Club and were very active members. In addition to winning many races and trophies, John served as a Board member, Commodore, Fleet Captain, Regatta Chair, and party host. His parents encouraged John’s love of downhill skiing with family ski trips to Colorado, a tradition John continued with his own family. In retirement, his annual goal was to have his number of downhill ski days match or exceed his age in years.

John graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. This is where he met his college sweetheart, Barbara Westlake, with whom he enjoyed 46 years of marriage and had two children, Amanda and Beau.

John returned to Madison after college to begin his 33-year career at Oscar Mayer as an industrial engineer and production supervisor.  During his time at Oscar Mayer, he helped produce the world record longest bologna and formed lasting friendships with co-workers who introduced him to a new category of outdoor adventure - hunting.  They spent decades hunting together - elk and mule deer in Colorado, pheasant in South Dakota, and grouse and whitetail deer in Wisconsin - and their families shared many camping trips, outdoor activities, and wild game meals.  

Retirement from Oscar Mayer meant more opportunity to travel and add new hobbies. John began making beautiful turned wooden bowls on a lathe, scavenging wood from tree cutting projects in the neighborhood. Barb and John explored many National Parks and visited more than 35 countries on biking, hiking, sailing, and snorkeling trips.  Of special note were wonderful sailing trips in the Caribbean with Lake Monona Sailing Club friends and family biking trips.  John volunteered in the Madison area with the Oscar Mayer READI group and later the United Way of Dane County.  He enjoyed cooking, spending time grilling on the patio, and trying out new recipes each week in the kitchen.  John was a Badgers and Packers fan, faithfully attending most Badger home football games since 1974.

John is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughter, Amanda Schuette; sister, Paula (David) Kraemer; brothers-in-law, Richard (Mary) Westlake, Keith (Chris) Westlake, Randy Westlake, and Douglas (Diana) Westlake; and sister-in-law, Amy Sorapuru.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Myrth and John Schuette; parents-in-law, Luella and Richard Westlake; son, John “Beau” Schuette, and brothers-in-law, Martin Westlake and Jay Anderson.

A celebration of life will be held at FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY ATRIUM ANNEX, 900 University Bay Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2024, with a reception to follow at the same location.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in John’s name be made to the UW Carbone Cancer Center, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, or Agrace HospiceCare.  We also would like to express our appreciation to Dr. Nadiminti and the Bone Marrow Transplant Team, especially Maureen, Stacey and Abby; the UW Infusion Center staff; the staff of UW Hospital B6/6 unit, especially nurses Andrew, Caitlin, Ashley and Mike; and the Agrace Hospice nurses for their care of John.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420