Pearl Schicker

Pearl Deloris Schicker, age 90, of Ripon, WI, passed away on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at her nephew’s house in Waupun, WI.

Pearl was born November 5, 1932 in the township of Springvale, Columbia County, WI, to Peter and Dorothy (Wiersma) Kooistra. Her father died when she was 2 ½ years old and her mother and siblings moved to Randolph, WI, where she attended Randolph grade and high schools and graduated salutatorian of her class. She married Joe Schicker in 1955 and moved to Ripon. In 1962, they purchased a small farm outside of Ripon and have lived there ever since. They farmed and ran a small trucking business with their nephew, Steve. When Joe passed away in 2015, Pearl and Steve continued on with Schicker Trucking.

In 1975, Pearl started working at Fabriko Inc of Green Lake. During her time at Fabriko, she attended classes at Moraine Park Technical College and other vocational schools. While doing so, she received an associate degree in accounting. After leaving Fabriko, once the president passed away and the company shut down, Pearl worked multiple other jobs. She also worked under the step program at school. While she was there, she became known by the school staff and children as Grandma Pearl.

Pearl was elected treasurer of the Town of Metomen for 20 years. She was also treasurer of the Friends of the Brandon Public Library and the Fairwater Historical Society. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and belonged to Bethel Church of Brandon.

Pearl’s extended family consists of her nieces and nephews of the Schaalma family. Her sister had a large family and she helped raise the children. Pearl enjoyed and became good at many sports. She enjoyed all winter sports, and fished in almost every state in the United States. She and her husband were terrific roller skaters and did some ballroom skating. Her husband Joe taught her to play cards and they entered into multiple card tournaments. She enjoyed antiques and sold them for a few years. Pearl had a big garden every year that had a number of fruit trees. Once she got a bit older, her great-nephew Adam helped take care of the garden and her house, allowing her to stay at her home as long as possible.

Pearl is survived by her nephew, Steve (Judy) Schaalma of Waupun, WI; great-niece, Katie (Jay) Grulke of Fond du Lac, WI; great-nephew, Adam Schaalma of Beaver Dam, WI; and great-great-nieces, Adriana Jade Schaalma and Emberlyn Pearl Grulke. She is further survived by numerous other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Pearl was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Schicker; parents, Peter and Dorothy Kooistra; brother, Peter Kooistra; sisters, Gertrude (Peter) Schaalma and Alvera (Larry) Zimmer; nephews, Charles and Alfred Schaalma; and multiple other nieces, nephews and friends.

A visitation for Pearl will be held on Friday, March 24, 2023 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, 515 Mayparty Dr., Ripon, WI 54971.

A funeral service for Pearl will be held on Friday, March 24, 2023 at 12:00 pm at Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, with Reverend John Tilstra officiating. Interment will follow at Reeds Corners Cemetery, Town of Metomen, WI. Memorials in Pearl’s name may be directed to: Friends of the Brandon Public Library, 117 E. Main St., Brandon, WI 53919.