Obit: Schuppel, Donald R. (1931 - 2012)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Ahlers, Crass, Ferlong, Hoogland, Justman, Kirchner, Lamberty, Melius, Olson, Quednow, Schlosser, Schuppel, Stephan, Thums, Warmanen, Wittala

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 12/08/2012

Schuppel, Donald “Digger” R. (19 FEB 1931 - 1 DEC 2012)

Donald “Digger” R. Schuppel, age 81, of the Memorial Nursing & Rehab Center, Medford, passed away on Saturday, December 1 at Memorial Nursing & Rehab Center, Medford, where he had been a patient for the past 2 years.

The funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday, December 8 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Medford where there will be military rites performed by the Medford Military Honors Team. Pastor Pete Warmanen will officiate and interment will be at the Chelsea Community Cemetery, Township of Chelsea. Honorary pallbearers are Pete Quednow & Leroy “Butch” Olson. Active pallbearers are Jeff Hoogland, Jerry and Tim Ahlers, Bob Wittala, Ken Melius, and Dan Schlosser.

Visitation will be at 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Friday, December 7 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Medford and also from noon until the time of funeral services at 1:00 PM on Saturday, December 8.

Digger was born on February 19, 1931 at the Township of Barton, Washington County, WI, to John Peter and Marie (Kirchner) Schuppel.

He attended Elm Grove elementary school, Township of Barton, in Washington County.

On February 28, 1953 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Township of Barton, Digger married Alyce Crass. They were later divorced but remain close friends.

US Army veteran having served from 1948-1949. After the service he worked on the family farm in Kewaskum, WI. He then did pipe line work, owned and operated an excavating company and body shop in the town of Barton for periods of time. He moved from the Town of Barton to Slinger, WI in 1966. He moved to the Town of Chelsea in 1972. He worked in construction & did mechanic work for 26 years retiring in 1990. He started racing cars at the age of 20, raced vintage modified cars for 26 years retiring from that in 1980. He was inducted into the Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame in 2009 where he was known as “Donald the Duck” & “Sneaky Pete” in the racing circles. He enjoyed tinkering in the garage, hunting, Monday card games, visiting with friends & family, & collecting TREASURES.

He was a member of Local 139 Operating Engineers for 26 years; Milwaukee Vintage Modified Stock Car Club.

Digger is survived by two daughters, Deborah Stephan of Neosho, WI and Patti Jo Lamberty of Whittlesey, WI; and daughter-in-law, Cathy Schuppel of Medford; 9 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; siblings Helen Ahlers of Jump River, WI; Alice Ferlong of Kewaskum, WI; and Rita (Harry) Justman of Mountain, WI; sister-in-law, Shirley Schuppel of Kewaskum.

He is predeceased by his parents, John Peter and Marie (Kirchner) Schuppel; his son Glenn Schuppel in 1986; daughter Nona Thums in 2003; and brothers, John and Myron Schuppel.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to the family for a future designation.

For online condolences, please visit www.hemerfuneralservice.com.