Kevin Schmudlach

Kevin Schmudlach, 53, the loving husband of Wendy Schmudlach and proud father of Katlin Q Schmudlach lost his battle with cancer surrounded by his extended family on December 20, 2011.
Kevin was born on April 12, 1958 in Madison, WI, the second of Maynard (Tony) and Mickie McMahon Schmudlach's five children. Kevin spent his childhood in Madison growing up in the "Bush". You could always find him on some sort of nature adventure whether it was fishing on Lake Wingra, Monona Bay or the Vilas Park Lagoons or patrolling the UW Arboretum and "Sunken City" for snakes that he would bring home and add to his growing number of pets.
The Vilas Zoo bears always had their diet supplemented with fresh fish as a courtesy of Kevin and his fishing buddies. Some of the fish would find their way into the Sea Lion moat. Kevin wanted to make sure that the sea lions got some exercise by working for their next meal.

Kevin attended Madison's Longfellow Elementary, Lincoln Junior High and West Senior High, Class of 1976. School came easy to him and he retained almost everything he ever heard or read. While still in Elementary School he would read to the children in the lower grades. His uncanny ability to remember facts and trivia had his family and friends ban him from playing Trivial Pursuit and other board games.

On January 28, 1979 Kevin met Wendy Knuteson in Madison. They fell in love and on June 13, 1981 they were married at the Dekorra Lutheran Church near Poynette, WI. This was one of the hottest days anyone can remember, the tuxedo jackets were shed moments after the wedding ceremony.

In December 1986 Kevin graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Science Education degree. Kevin accepted a job working for the Boy Scouts of America as a Boy Scout Executive in Freeport, IL. This required Kevin to become an Illinois resident and to get an out of state deer hunting license, pretty tough on someone who had been born and raised in Wisconsin. It was while Kevin and Wendy were living in Illinois that their daughter Katlin Q was born on December 1, 1989. The saying "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" describes exactly this father and daughter. Kevin's intelligence, thoughtfulness and sense of humor shine through with Katie.

In 1991, Kevin was transferred by the Boy Scouts of America to a job in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. For some odd reason Kevin seemed to fit in with the Yoopers. Upper Michigan was a long way from Kevin and Wendy's family and friends and in 1993 they moved back to their hometown of Madison, WI. They both found new jobs in Madison and bought a house in town. Kevin had learned the family business of carpentry growing up and eventually came full circle and started working as a carpenter again. He was a fine craftsman and built many pieces of furniture for family and friends.

An old friend of the family once commented that "Kevin never met a stranger". From the moment you met Kevin you would become his friend. Even during his last few days, Kevin stayed true to form. While lying in his hospital bed, struggling to breath, he was listening to one of his favorite shows, Jeopardy, and even before the clue was finished he would take a breath and answer the question before any of the contestants had a chance to buzz in. As the family gathered in the hospital room and told stories, Kevin would respond with short one liners making all of us laugh just like he always did. On Kevin's last day his daughter, Katlin, sat by his side holding his hand. She told him she had to run a few errands and would be back in a little while. When Katie returned she sat next to her Dad and told him she was back.
Kevin died a few minutes later having waited until his daughter returned.
Kevin is survived by his wife; Wendy and daughter; Katlin Q Schmudlach, his parents; Maynard (Tony) and Mickie McMahon Schmudlach of Madison. Three brothers; Michael (Susan) of Brooklyn, Keith (Cindy) of Madison, and Andy Schmudlach of Madison. Kevin's wife Wendy's brothers and sisters;
Amy (Dr. Craig) Lorimer of Madison, Ron (Patty) Knuteson of Poynette, Ellen (Mike) Keller of Poynette, Karl Knuteson of Poynette and Darryl (Sherri Lynn) Knuteson of Poynette and many nephews, nieces, family and friends.
Kevin was preceded in death by his sister Coleen and his father-in-law and mother-in-law: Gilbert and Alice Knuteson.

At Kevin's request there will not be a funeral. A celebration of Kevin's life will be held sometime this Spring.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Kevin Schmudlach Memorial Fund at any M&I/BMO Harris Bank.