Delbert B. Schuster

Delbert B. “Del” Schuster, age 92, of Lancaster, passed away on Monday, October 23, 2023, at Grant Regional Health Center, Lancaster.  He was born on October 31, 1930, in Ellenboro Township, the son of Delbert L. and Helen (Wenzel) Schuster.  Del graduated from Lancaster High School in 1948.  He furthered his education at the Wisconsin State College of Platteville, earning a degree in Chemistry.  Shortly after receiving his degree in 1952, Del was drafted into the United States Army and began basic training in Kentucky.  On March 25, 1953, Del was united in marriage to Nancy Fritz just before deployment to Korea. Following his honorable discharge, Del worked at Dubuque Packing Company and as a Chemist in the Fox River Valley paper industry. In 1971, he returned to Grant County where he was employed at John Deere in Dubuque for nearly 20 years. Del then returned to the University of Wisconsin Platteville to work in the Chemistry labs until his retirement. Del liked to spend time wandering the family farms and enjoying nature. As a young man, he enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family and later in life continued to enjoy hearing about his family's adventures.  Del loved genealogy and ancestry, and avidly researched his family tree, including trips to Ohio and Virginia.  Del grew a wide variety of fruit trees, grape vines, berry bushes and vegetables, and dabbled in honey bees and fish.  He read several newspapers, subscribed to many magazines and enjoyed watching nature, science and history shows.  He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Del had a wealth of knowledge and will be greatly missed. 

Survivors include his children: Terry (Gary) Mayne, Cheryl Schuster, Kurt (Rachelle) Schuster, Kraig Schuster, and Sandee (Paul Baard) Schuster; nine grandchildren: Chris (Jodi) Mayne, Kyle Mayne, and Kessa (Nik) Jacobs, Erik Schuster and Karl Schuster, Keaton (Erica Finamore) Schuster, Konor Schuster, Karter Schuster, and Lavie (Sabrina Welke) Schuster; three great-grandchildren: Taliya Mayne, Jaela Mayne, and Calloway Jacobs; sister-in-law Jolene Schuster; brother-in-law Dick (Nola) Burns; nieces, nephews, many other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, Delbert and Helen, Del was preceded in death by his wife Nancy on October 1, 1999; daughter-in-law Kelly Schuster; brothers Merlyn and Robert Schuster; sisters-in-law Leona Schuster and Joan Schuster; and Nancy’s siblings.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at 12:00 Noon, at Martin Schwartz Funeral Home & Crematory in Lancaster with Pastor Mark Hoehne officiating.  Burial with military honors accorded by the Richard Burns American Legion Post No. 109, William Pollock VFW Post No. 2344, and the State of WI Military Honors program will be held in Hillside Cemetery, Lancaster.  Family and friends may call on Tuesday, from 11:00 a.m. until the time of services at the funeral home.