Paul W. Schwister

Paul W. Schwister, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, died on Monday, January 5, 2026, after a brief illness. He was 86.

Born on April 25, 1939, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Paul was the son of John and Olivia (Kaiser) Schwister. He was blessed with a childhood surrounded by loving grandparents, aunts and uncles, and many adventurous cousins, all growing up together on Roller Avenue in Beaver Dam in houses built by his Grandpa Kaiser.

In 8th grade, the family moved to Lodi to run the Lodi Food Shop, their grocery store on Main Street. Paul quickly embraced his new town, building friendships that he nurtured for the rest of his life. A gifted musician, he joined the high school band as an 8th-grader to play the trombone and sang with the school choirs. Paul was proud to serve as an altar server at St. Peter’s in Beaver Dam and St. Pat’s in Lodi and could flawlessly sing the Mass responses in Latin.

He graduated from Lodi High School in 1957 and remained close to his beloved classmates, socializing with them even into the final month of his life.

Following graduation, Paul joined the U.S. Army. He served in peacetime Germany as a tank driver—specifically driving the company commander’s tank—an adventure that provided him with great stories for the rest of his life.

Upon returning home, he married Bonnie (Borgrud) in 1962, and together they raised their two children, JoEllen and Eric, in Lodi. They purchased a cabin on North Twin Lake in Washburn County with three other families and that became Paul’s happy place for the next 50 years.

After selling the family business, Paul moved into the field of accounting and a long career at Rural Insurance in Madison.

When his first marriage ended, Paul immersed himself in the lives of his family, friends, and community. In 1982, mutual friends introduced him to Mary (Clark) at a Super Bowl party. Their relationship blossomed immediately, sparking four decades of love and adventure and the blending of their families, including their four children. They married on October 9, 1982.

Paul and Mary enjoyed long car trips through the National Parks of the West and traveled extensively to visit family in Ithaca, Edina, Chicago, Spokane, West Yellowstone, and Edmonton. Together they built up their small farm outside of Lodi, complete with llamas, sheep, dogs, and cats. Later in life, they moved to their dream retirement place on a lake near Hayward, Wisconsin. Paul and Mary always shared their love of the Northwoods and family members cherished their visits to see Bubba and Gramme on the farm or at the lake.

Paul was as happy cutting firewood with his chainsaw as he was attending a symphony orchestra. He loved music, singing in the Madison Civic Chorus and the Hayward Community Choir, and playing trombone with the Soon-to-be-Famous Lodi Band.

Paul believed strongly in community involvement and served as a volunteer fireman both in Lodi and later in Sawyer County. He was active in the Jaycees, Lions, and at St. Patrick’s church. He served as a Cub Scout pack leader and for decades was a fixture in the Thursday night men’s golf league and on the ice at the Lodi curling rink.

For years Paul and Mary volunteered at the American Birkebeiner and Paul was a leader in the Association of Wisconsin Lakes. He filled his days with woodworking, gardening, biking, photography, canoeing, and giving his grandkids tubing rides on the lake. He had a lifelong love of reading, especially books on American history and anything by Stephen Ambrose.

Paul is survived by his beloved wife of 43 years, Mary (Clark) Schwister; his children: JoEllen (Lance) Fleming, Eric (Manju Durairaj) Schwister, Rich (Julie Nowlen) Stedman, Jen (Sean) Faeth; his sister-in-law, Marilyn (Miller) Schwister of Lodi; his sister- and brother-in-law, Ann and Byron Johnson of Spokane; his brother-in-law Randy Clark of Madison; his ten grandchildren: Kasey (Joseph) Schneider, Cole Bartholomew, Laura (Jarrid) Heim, Benjamin, Nicho, and Joseph Schwister, Hannah and Cameron Stedman, Quinlan and Abby Faeth; his five great-grandchildren; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents and parents; his brother and sister-in-law, John and Joanne Schwister; his brother, Bob Schwister; his sister, Helen Schwister; his father- and mother-in-law Robert and Isabel “Jo” (Smart) Clark; his nieces Sandy Schwister and Kay (Tim) Schwister; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The family offers their warmest thanks to everyone who has reached out with love and support. They send their deepest gratitude to the caring staff at UW Health East and Agrace hospice for their compassionate care and expertise.

Services will be done at a later date. Donations may be made in Paul’s memory to Wisconsin Lakes (wisconsinlakes.org) or to Agrace in Madison.