Cassandra (Randie) Lee Schlamp

Cassandra (Randie) Lee Schlamp August 10, 1959 – December 12, 2017  Peacefully at home with her loving husband and best friend, Rob Nickells, by her side, Randie passed away after a courageous battle with inflammatory breast cancer. Randie was born in Edmonton, Alberta on August 10, 1959, but grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  She was predeceased by her Mom and Dad, June and Harold and her sister, Pam.  She is survived by and will be dearly missed by her sisters, Deborah, Cheryl and Kristine, nieces and nephews, Lyndsey (Derek), Kelly (Jenna), Jason (Karen), Jessie (Shane), Kurtis (Laura) and great nieces Emmelyn and Millie.  Randie left Winnipeg after obtaining her Bachelor of Science degree to attend the University of Western Ontario, where she obtained her PhD. From there she moved on to Indiana University in Bloomington for her post-doctoral studies. This is where Randie met the love of her life, Dr. Rob Nickells.  Together they made a great team, eventually settling in Madison, Wisconsin where they have been working together researching the biology of glaucoma at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for the past 23 years.  While Randie had a love for science, her life was full with many passions. She loved animals, especially Siamese cats, and her current dogs Nikki and Schatzi. She was an avid curler and long-time member of the Madison Curling Club, where she developed wonderful and life-long friendships. Thank you all for your generous and kind support during the difficult times.  She loved to travel and was fortunate to see much of the world. During her final year, she and Rob dropped everything and went to Egypt for a trip of a life-time. But perhaps her greatest love was to spend time in Canada at the family cottage on Eleanor Lake in the Whiteshell Provincial Park in Manitoba.  This was her favorite place in all the world.  Randie, may you rest in peace. Thank you for your example of courage and stubbornness and all the joy that you brought us. We all will forever hold you in our hearts. The family is planning an open house to celebrate her life at the family home on December 23, between 1 and 5 pm. Memorial gifts can be made payable to the UW Foundation-C. Randie Schlamp Memorial Fund, and mailed to: US Bank Lockbox 78807, Milwaukee, WI 53278. The fund will support breast cancer research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Comprehensive Cancer Center for the research program of Mark Burkard MD, PhD.