Marcia Schanen

Mrs. Marcia Schanen of Port Washington, formerly of West Bend, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Aurora Medical Center Grafton surrounded by her family.  She was 76 years old.

Marcia was born in Milwaukee on April 18, 1950, the daughter of Leonard and Marilynn (nee Kime) Jaastad.

The family moved briefly to Illinois before returning to Wisconsin, and Marcia graduated from West Bend High School, Class of 1968, before earning an associate’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Washington County in 1970. 

She took a position in the accounting department at West Bend Mutual Insurance Co., where she remained until the day before she became a mother in 1986.

  On Sept. 12, 1981, Marcia was united in marriage with the love of her life, Herman E. Schanen, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Port Washington. The couple settled into their home and spent the next 44 years filling it with love and memories as they raised their two children  and spent nearly every day together.

  Marcia’s first love was her family; they came above all else. When her children were young, she anxiously awaited their arrival home from school so she could hear about their days and tutor them through their schoolwork. As they grew, she cherished family get-togethers for holidays and other special occasions and always made sure her children and granddaughter knew they were welcome at home.

Marcia was very close to her mother and they spoke at length daily until her mother’s passing at the age of 101. 

Marcia enjoyed the game of solitaire and had an ongoing streak of playing daily for more than 15 years. In her quiet time, she liked watching television, especially PBS and Hallmark Channel movies. Her family remembers her as a caring, thoughtful, patient and understanding woman who was kind, gentle and loving to all.

  Those left to cherish her memory include her husband Herman, their children Jennifer (Jacob) Schanen-Materi of Green Bay and Brian (Heather) Schanen of Whitewater, granddaughter Saniyah, sister Lynnette Haegle of Louisville, Ky., and niece Diana (Scott) Pickup, also of Louisville. 

She is further survived by brothers and sisters-in-law Donald (the late Annette) Schanen of Saukville, Paul (Olivia) Schanen of Waukesha, Ken Schanen of Port Washington, Steve (Debbie) Schanen of the Town of Grafton, Christine (John) Gregozeski of Port Washington, Glen Schanen of Saukville, Pauline “Polly” Schanen of Delafield, Jerry Moore of Ashville, N.C., and many nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by nephew Rhett Haegle and brothers and sisters-in-law John “Roger” Schanen, Mary Moore and Jean (the late Joe) Kolkema.

  Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 28, at Eernisse Funeral Home, 1600 W. Grand Ave., Port Washington. Father Patrick Wendt will preside. The family will receive visitors at Eernisse Funeral Home on Thursday, May 2, from 3 p.m. until services begin at 4 p.m.

Marcia will be laid to rest the following day at St. Mary Cemetery, Port Washington, in a private ceremony.    

In lieu of flowers, memorials, if desired, are suggested to PBS Wisconsin.

Eernisse Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com.