Ralph Schuler was a regular — a regular at Kopps for a burger and a chocolate shake since it opened in 1950, a regular 3:30 in the afternoon cocktail haver, a regular bb-gun squirrel shooter (though who knows how many he actually hit), and a regular fisherman, often found on a bench at the end of a Pewaukee Lake pier.
He regularly showed his grandchildren all the mice he’d gotten in his mousetraps, and always cheered for the Packers, no matter who the quarterback was. He regularly helped Alice, his wife of 66 years, with puzzles, even though he was colorblind, and regularly joined her in playing the penny slots at Potawatomi, though Alice was the lucky one.
He regularly traveled, both with Alice to see the world and during his two years spent in the army. Once he could no longer travel much further than his Brookfield home, he regularly followed his kids’ and grandkids’ adventures, always with a globe, atlas, or printed out Google Maps.
He was regularly a hard worker and a helper; since his own father passed away when he was just six years old, Ralph helped his mother, Minnie, and his older brother, Don, build a strong, successful life in their one bedroom apartment above a drugstore. He regularly had the run of Wauwatosa by himself from a very young age, yet always accomplished so many things, like raising a family, running a company, and fulfilling his marriage vows of till death do us part.
He regularly enjoyed scenic Sunday drives with his kids (which as the kids got older, caused a lot of kicking and screaming) and eventually enjoyed scenic drives with his grandkids — and always, regularly, opened doors for Grandma. In his later days, he regularly enjoyed Sunday football games with whatever family members could join him, always regaling with talks of past fish caught over a beer as family young and old listened intently.
He regularly tried to tempt others with his go-to cocktails (Manhattans or martinis for himself, though he made the best Brandy Old Fashions), and even sometimes bamboozled others into taking the nastiest shots they’ve ever taken. He regularly ate Alice’s home-cooked meals (“he always had to eat, ya know”) and always finished off her pasta or mashed potatoes. And he regularly shared stories of his past ventures with other grandparents, sitting in his lounge chair for hours as the rest of the family finished off pumpkin pie.
He regularly went out duck hunting, creating some of the best days for his son while out in the duck boat in Horicon Marsh, even though they left at four a.m. and didn’t return until dark. He regularly cared for his children’s pups, like Ellie, Chola, Stella and Ari, and spent time visiting the larger animals, too.
And he always loved with his entire heart, for his entire family; Susie and Scott Nygren, Karen and Steven Zorn, Bob and Susie Schuler, and grandkids Mattie, Tony Schuler and wife Alyssa, and Sarah Nygren and wife and son, Jenny and Parker Coe.
He never missed a sports game, recital, play, graduation, or wedding, or even the chance to play mini golf. He came to every school grandparents day, standing in for best friend’s grandparents when they weren’t there, and later on in life, fulfilling missing grandpa spots for new members of the family who never had one, and needed one just like Ralph.
Ralph Schuler was everything that anyone could ask for, as a dad, a brother, a grandpa, and a friend. Holidays, fishing trips, and lazy Sundays won’t be the same, but here’s to a regular in our hearts. Cheers.
Private Services were held.
