Ralph "Butch" Schlicht

Madison – Ralph “Butch” Schlicht, age 82, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 24th after a 5-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was born on November 16, 1942 in Madison WI to the late Karl “Kully Sr.” and Gladys (Freiseleben) Schlicht of Madison. 

Butch graduated from Madison West High School in 1960. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1966 with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Agronomy. He played for the Badgers golf team and was named an NCAA All American in 1964.

Butch was an accomplished golfer from a young age. In 1952, he won the Junior Championship at Blackhawk Country Club. In 1961, he won the Madison City Tournament. In 1962, Butch played in a golf exhibition with Jack Nicklaus, Jackie Allen, and Steve Caravello at Odana Hills Golf Course. Butch was the first WI golfer to win the WI State Junior, the WI State Amateur, and WI State Open. Butch played on the PGA tour from 1972 – 1974. In 2002, Butch was inducted into the Wisconsin State Golf Hall of Fame.

Butch served his country in the U.S. Army from 1966 – 1969. Butch was assigned to Special Services and served as a Goodwill Ambassador, representing the U.S. Military in the British Amateur, the German Amateur, and other European golf tournaments. In 1968, while stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, he met Nancy Swosinski, whom he married in 1973. Beginning in 1974, Butch worked as a substitute teacher for the Milwaukee Public Schools. In 1976, Butch got his real estate license and launched a 25-year career as a loan originator, primarily serving first-time U.S. Veteran homebuyers. In 2000, Butch retired. 

Butch’s memory will be cherished by his:

· Wife Nancy of 51 years

· Daughter Monica (Josh Fleck) Schlicht

· Daughter Eva (Scott Pink) Schlicht

· Granddaughter Berkeley Fleck

· Grandsons Easton Fleck, and Sullivan and Louis Pink

· Brothers Tom (Cathy DuPont) Schlicht, Pete (Terry) Schlicht, and Bob (Debbie) Schlicht

· Brothers and sisters-in-law Chester (Diana) Swosinski and Franny (Gregg) Peters

· Nephews Joel, David, Jonathan, Scott, Nathan, and Brandon 

· Nieces Tanya, Natalie, Britta, Maria, and Dania

Butch is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Karl “Kully” Jr., his sister Joan, his brother-in-law Tom, sister-in-law Erika, brother-in-law Bob, nephews Michael and Andrew, and nieces Christina and Jaime.

The family wishes to extend its heartfelt gratitude to the staffs of All Saints Memory Care, Four Winds Manor and Lodge, and Oakwood Village Prairie Ridge for the excellent and loving care given Butch while in their facilities. We also wish to acknowledge the services of Agrace Hospice who made Butch’s final months of such a depleting journey more bearable for Butch and his family.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 31st from 10:00 – 11:00 at St. Maria Goretti (5313 Flad Ave, Madison), followed by a funeral mass at 11:00, and a burial to follow at Forest Hill Cemetery (1 Speedway Rd, Madison). As for Butch, we were not surprised to learn that his tee time is confirmed for an upcoming match at Heavenly Hills Country Club: Kully Sr. and Kully Jr. versus Joan and Butch.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to the Evans Scholars Foundation to help send caddies to college (2501 Patriot Blvd., Glenview, IL 60626-8022 or online at wgaesf.org.)