David Arthur Schrader

Dave was the kind of man who showed up for his family, for his friends, for strangers he'd never met before, and meant it. He was 79 when he passed away on Sunday, October 11, 2026, in Chatfield, Minnesota. He had been living in New Berlin, Wisconsin. 

Born in Milwaukee on December 22, 1946, Dave was the son of Arthur and Doris (Turks) Schrader. He grew up in the city, graduated from Marquette High School, obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from Marquette University and went on to earn a Master's degree from DePaul University. But the education he was proudest of, he knew, was the one that taught him to lead with kindness. 

That kindness became a vocation. For most of his career, Dave devoted himself to supporting people with disabilities, bringing his management expertise and sharp negotiating skills to senior leadership roles at DePaul Sertoma Industries and Goodwill. He secured subcontract manufacturing work that created work opportunities for the clients and strengthened the organizations that served them. And he never let that care end at the office. He was a longtime member of the Sertoma Club of Milwaukee and served as Treasurer of the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County. Both roles fit him like a well-worn fleece. 

He met Peg and on May 15, 1993, they married at Lost Valley Ranch in Golden, Colorado, perched on top of a mountain, because of course they would. Peg had four children at the time, ranging from late teens down to pre-kindergarten, and she asked him, straight up, if he was sure he wanted to step into that. He didn't hesitate. "In for a dime, in for a dollar." And he never flinched. 

If you asked him what made life good, he'd probably tell you it was the sound of his grandchildren laughing. He called them "the biggest surprise of my life," and he was completely smitten. He spent hours teaching them to ride bikes, playing games, hunting down the exact right toy, and just being with them. He was happiest when one of them was leaning on his knee or tugging his sleeve. 

He and Peg loved to travel. They liked to see new places, try new things, and come home with a multitude of stories to share. Those trips weren't just vacations; they were their shared language, and the lasting stories and memories of those travels stand as proof of how many adventures they packed into a life. 

He also had a gift for hunting a good deal. At rummage sales, Goodwill, and estate sales, Dave would find something, negotiate a price, and resell it, all while grinning like he'd just won a prize. His eBay sales were a whole world unto themselves, and he took them seriously (and playfully, in his own way). 

But maybe what Dave held closest was a small group of men who met every week for thirty-five years. They were there to talk, really talk, about life and feelings and everything in between. Dave kept that group for three and a half decades, and it was a thread he never let go of. 

Dave loved playing cards and did it all his life. Poker was the excuse: chips on the table, money passing back and forth, a little friendly ribbing over a busted flush. But nobody was really there to win. And sheepshead was a great way to spend an afternoon playing with nickel or quarter bets. 

And if you wanted to find Dave on a quiet afternoon, you'd find him outside. On the tractor, in the woods, hands in the dirt on the property he and Peg shared. He cut wood, shaped the landscape, and tended the grounds with the quiet pride of a man who wanted his home to be a place people could rest and a family could call home. 

The Family He Left Behind

Dave is survived by his beloved wife, Peg; his children, who grew up knowing him as Dad: 
● Eduard (Ed) Buchner and his wife, Jenna (Warrick) Buchner 
● John Buchner and his wife, Dawn Adin 
● Sara (Buchner) Cerwin and her husband, Mike Cerwin 
● William (Bill) Buchner and his partner, Abi Young 
His grandchildren, Lilliana, Ellison, August, and Wyatt Buchner, and Izzy, will feel his absence the most. They knew him as the man who always had time. 

He is also survived by his sisters, Linda Schrader (John Hample) and Jeanne (Schrader) Raabe (John Raabe); his niece, Lindsay (Colvert) Johnson (Phil Johnson); his nephew, Parker Raabe; his sisters-in-law, Nancy Giehtbrock and Elizabeth (Beth)(Giehtbrock) Hoekstra (Charles "Bob" Hoekstra); his brothers-in-law, Daniel (Dan) Giehtbrock (Gerri), Roy Giehtbrock (Sharon), and Sam Giehtbrock (Kim); and fifteen nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Doris Schrader, and his brother, Larry. 

A Gathering in His Honor

Please join us on Monday, November 23, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Frame Park Rotary Building, 1150 Baxter Street, Waukesha, WI, to remember Dave, laugh about the good times, and say the things we wish we’d said sooner. 

The family will share a eulogy at 5:00 p.m. We’ll serve some of Dave’s favorite foods as we share stories and celebrate his life. 

Dave, on the eve of his upcoming birthday, had a gentle request: he wanted everyone to tell him what gave them joy. In his honor, we're inviting you to do just that. Think about what makes your life bright. Bring that thought with you to the gathering, and share it with the family.

Memorial Fund

Should you wish to honor Dave’s memory, Peg has asked that memorial gifts be directed to the Milwaukee County League of Women Voters in his name: Dave Schrader Memorial Gifts