Died: 6 Jan 2017
Born 4 Nov 1931- Died 6 Jan 2017
Surrounded by his family, towering red pines, and well-fed squirrels and chickadees, Francis Schott passed away peacefully in his Northwoods home after a valiant battle with lymphoma.
Fran was born in Mt. Horeb in 1931 and grew up in Madison. He proudly served in the 82nd Airborne Division during the Korean War, and his paratrooper adventures provided a lifetime of stories for friends and family. After the Army, Fran returned to Madison and enrolled in Wisconsin School of Electronics where he learned to repair the newest technological marvel – television.
In Madison Fran also met his life-long love and fishing partner, Phelps native, Dorothy Jean (Dee Jay) Gerner. After marrying in 1957 they moved to Monroe, where Fran and Dee owned and operated S&O TV Service for 38 years.
Fran took pride in his kids, Connie and Jim, and never missed an accordion recital or youth hockey game. He taught them at early ages to ski, fish, hunt, golf, work and laugh. After retiring to Land O’ Lakes in 1995 Fran accomplished his “bucket list” goal of helping Connie, Jim and son-in-law Steve each catch and release legal muskies. He also tied and baited hundreds of hooks, turning granddaughters Katie, Molly and Stephanie, and grandson-in-law, Tim, into enthusiastic anglers.
Fran was every neighbor’s friend. Not only did he own tools and widgets of all shapes and sizes, but he eagerly offered the labor and know-how to use them…along with a couple cold beverages afterward. Fran also volunteered his energy to the Phelps and Land O’ Lakes Snowmobile clubs, and he and Dee hosted fish fries and fundraisers to restock Birch and Eleanor Lakes.
Fran is survived by his wife of 59 years, Dorothy Schott, daughter and son-in-law Connie and Stephen Chandler of Platteville, Wis., son and daughter-in-law Jim and Jan Schott of Salt Lake City, Utah, and grandchildren Katie Chandler, Washington, D.C., Molly and Tim Sullivan, St. Paul, Minn., and Stephanie Schott and fiance David Rosen, Phoenix, Ariz. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Marie Schott, and sister, Thais Schott.
A celebration of Fran’s life will be held at his home sometime after the ice goes out and the wood ducks return to Birch
Fran is listed in the 4th edition of the Friedrich Seidemann Family Tree Book on page 307 with his wife, children and grandchildren. He was a wonderful man with a great personality.