Michael E. Schanhofer

Schanhofer, Michael (Mike) E. Luxemburg/Sparta

     On July 4, 2017, Mike Schanhofer went down swinging in his final at bat on earth when multiple myeloma slipped a curveball past him for strike three.

     Mike was born in Sparta, WI to Herman and Alice (Carr) Schanhofer on June 22, 1941. He graduated from St. Patrick’s Grade School, Sparta High School, and UW-La Crosse in 1963 where he achieved highest honors with majors in English and History and a concentration in Physical Education.

     On August 8, 1964, he married the former Bonnie Blinn. They were united in marriage for fifty-one years until Bonnie passed away on April 30, 2016. They were blessed with two sons, Scott and Ryan.

     Mike’s goal in education was to become a high school teacher and coach. He achieved his ambition when Luxemburg-Casco High School employed him in 1963 to both teach and coach. He remained at Luxemburg-Casco for a total of forty-two years.

     His teaching duties included English 11 and 12, World History, Minority Literature,  US History, and AP European History for college credits.

    His coaching involvement included assistant varsity football (7 years), assistant varsity baseball (32 years), head varsity girls volleyball (10 years), and head varsity girls basketball (26 years). His basketball teams won three state championships (1988, 1994, 2004) and one state runner-up (1995). He amassed a total of 524 wins and was inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2002. He concluded his coaching career with a three-year stint at Sturgeon Bay High School.

     He finished his career as a teacher at Luxemburg-Casco when he taught Alternative Education to students who struggled in the traditional classroom setting. He felt all students were equally important.

     Mike is survived by his two sons and their families, Scott (Brenda) and children Aleah, Delaney, and Bodie, and Ryan (Christina) and their children Emma and Olivia. He is further survived by three sisters, Jeanette, Anita, and Marilyn and by many nieces and nephews.

     He was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie; his parents; his four brothers, Don, Ted, John, and Paul; and two sisters, Sally and Marjorie.

     A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 noon on Monday, July 10, 2017 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Sparta. Family and friends are invited to call at the church on Monday from 10 a.m. until time of services. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

     A Celebration of Life will also be held from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 23, 2017 at Rendezvous, E896 County Road N, Luxemburg.

     The Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.  Online condolences may be offered at www.schanhoferfh.com

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