Richard Schurman

MADISON- Richard Carlton Schurman, 93, passed away on Thursday, March 9th at Badger Prairie Health Care Center from complications of Alzheimer's disease. Richard (Rich, Dick) was born in Lewiston, Maine on February 9, 1924 to Walter P. and Bessie (Haines) Schurman. Following high school, he attended Leland Powers School of Radio and Theatre, Boston, MA until Christmas of 1942 when he joined the US Marine Corps. He was stationed in Guadalcanal, Hollandia, the Philippines, and California, working on radio and radar repair.

Following the war he returned to the University of Maine and graduated in 1952. He immediately moved to Evanston, IL where he was the assistant editor of Sigma Chi magazine. In Evanston he met Elizabeth Eleanor Rhodes and they were married in 1953. In 1955-56 he worked for the Penobscot Times in Old Town, Maine. In 1956 the family returned to Madison, teaching English at Ridgeway High School. The next year began his 25-year teaching career in the Madison School System teaching English, starting at Central High school where he was also the golf coach. He taught at Lincoln Junior High and then at Madison East and West high schools. His passion was teaching students to learn to love to read! He taught a group of at-risk students at Lincoln with a one-on-one reading program and ultimately was responsible for bringing paperback books into the Madison school system. During the summers, he worked at Odana Hills golf course and he left a legacy of a love for the game of golf with his sons and grandsons.

Richard is survived by his wife Elizabeth (Betty), two sons: Rick (Dyann) Wausau, WI, and Tom (Laurie) Fond du lac, WI; a daughter Susan (Rick) Jacobson, Janesville, WI; daughter-in-law Ingrid Schurman, eight wonderful grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren and four sisters living on the East coast. He was preceded in death by son John, his parents, and four brothers. Richard loved his family, his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and so enjoyed our family gatherings. He will be missed by all for his loving support and his dry sense of humor.

A private memorial service is being planned at a future date with Pastor Jason Eddy (grandson-in law) from Janesville officiating. A sincere thank you to Badger Prairie for their excellent care of "Grampa".


Cress Funeral Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
(608) 238-3434