Obituary: Norbert G. Schachte - Class of 1952

MADISON -Norbert G. Schachte, a lifelong Madison resident, passed away at home on Thursday, July 8, 2010, from complications related to a 30 year battle with Multiple Sclerosis.

Born in Madison on July 9, 1934, he was the second son of Norbert I. Schachte and Lillian M. (Kurt) Schachte. Norb attended St. James Grade School and Madison Central High School where he won six varsity letters playing football, basketball, and baseball. Upon graduating in 1952, he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin, earning three varsity baseball letters and playing varsity basketball for three semesters, before earning a bachelor's degree in economics in 1957. He also served eight years in the Naval Reserve, honorably discharged in 1962. Following college, Norb began his career as a life underwriter with Indianapolis Life, John Lyons Agency followed by many years with the Kenneth P. Urso Agency. He earned his Chartered Life Underwriter designation in 1966, and went on to serve as general agent with Northwestern National Life followed by many years with Lafayette Life. In 1986, he earned the Chartered Financial Consultant designation, and expanded his business in 1996 to include financial planning, serving as President of Diversified Insurance Associates. He served as the president of the Madison Association of Life Underwriters (1983-84) earning their Distinguished Service Award in 1992, was a Life Member of the Million Dollar Round Table, and served on the Lafayette Life President's Advisory Council before cutting back in 2002.

Norb was also very active in his faith, serving as a Eucharistic minister as well as volunteering his time at St. Thomas Aquinas for many years. He also remained very active long beyond his high school and college athletic years, playing baseball with Caves Buick, Mallatt's, Millers, and the Madison Lakers, basketball with Tipler Transfer and Corcoran's, and fastpitch softball with city semifinalist Equitable Life. His greatest contribution, though, was to kids and youth sports programs throughout the Madison area. While in college, he spent his summers umpiring kid's rec baseball around the city, and as his own family grew, spent countless hours organizing and coaching. Norb worked for many years as a WIAA football official, was a co-founder of the Madison Ice Mice program, organized and coached Little League baseball in Monona and Middleton, was a founding member and coach at the Monona Hockey Association, coached West Flyers Hockey, helped to organize and coach Middleton Youth Soccer teams in the formative years, and was a past president of the Badger Dolphins Dive Team. He was also an avid fisherman in the years before his illness and his family looked forward to the fishing vacations at Coach Dynie Mansfield's cottages up north every summer.

Norb is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 54 years, Charlotte (Coffey) Schachte; sons Dan (Kim) and Dave (Gina); daughters, Ann and Kay; as well as grandchildren, Danny, Ian, Lauren, Maddy, Sarah, Elizabeth, Matthew, Samuel, and David. He is also survived by a brother, John Schachte of Cinncinati, Ohio; and sisters, Mary Schachte and Geraldine (Ray) Denson, both of Madison; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Our family would like to express our sincerest gratitude to Dr. Charles Weber and his colleagues, the nurses and respiratory therapists at Meriter Hospital, and the staff at Meriter Home Health for the kind, compassionate care given to Norb over the last few years of his life.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 602 Everglade Drive, Madison at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 13, 2010, with Monsignor Donn Heiar presiding. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Monday, July 12, 2010, at GUNDERSON WEST FUNERAL HOME, 7435 University Ave., Middleton and also on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church.

Finally, the family would request in lieu of flowers, donations in Norb's memory to the Wisconsin Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Gunderson West Funeral and Cremation Centers; 7435 University Ave.; (608) 831-6761

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on July 11, 2010 (submitted by Michael Vahldieck, Class of 1968)