Gordon “Gordy” W. Schingen

Gordon “Gordy” W. Schingen 86 of Fond du Lac, passed away peacefully on
September 10, 2023, at Maple Meadows Assisted Living Center surrounded by his
children and listening to the Classic Country Music Station he so loved.
He was born February 11, 1937, a son of Fred G. and Hilda E. (Duwe) Schingen. He
was 1 of 10 kids who grew up on the family farm located in Woodhull, Wisconsin. He
attended Goodrich High School and worked at Wells Manufacturing shortly after.
On January 7, 1956, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, he married Marcia Lee Beyer who
was his blind date for the Senior Prom. They moved into the house Marcia’s father
built, raised their 4 children, and never moved anywhere else.
In 1957 he became employed as a delivery driver for Service Bakery where he soon
became a route supervisor. In 1964 he ventured out on his own and became selfemployed by starting his own bakery delivery service, Gordy’s Town and Country
Bakery, where he would work for the next 31 years retiring at the age of 58. He went
from door to door, mainly in the “Holy Lands” selling bread, doughnuts, and cookies to
his loyal customers who knew him as the “Baker Man”. He took pride in working hard
and never missing a day of work, no matter what the weather conditions were or how
bad he might have felt.
He received his pilot’s license in the early 1960’s. He liked to take short joy trips to
Green Bay, Chicago, and up north to go hunting. He enjoyed taking family and friends
boating and waterskiing on Lake Winnebago. When the Fond du Lac County Fair came
to town, a ride on the Ferris Wheel was a must!
Gordy’s greatest passion was his hobby, the sport of racing Homing Pigeons. He had
pigeons ever since he was a young boy. At the age of 21, he joined the Fond du Lac
Racing Pigeon Club where he held numerous offices and won many awards over a 60-
year span. He loved sharing and talking about the sport with others, especially visiting
schools with the birds and educating young children. This unique sport gave him and
Marcia the opportunity to travel the world for pigeon conventions where lifelong
friendships were made along the way.
Gordy enjoyed getting together with his buddies, especially weekly Tuesday poker
games and breakfast with the same group for 30 years. He appreciated the Frenchie
Tavern Crew for taking care of him whether he was there or not!
Gordy knew how to get the party started, especially on the dance floor where he was
always the first one on and last one off! He enjoyed “just one” daily Brandy Old
Fashioned while watching the nightly news. Later in the evening, he loved picking up
the phone to catch up with family and friends to simply “check-in”.
Gordy always had a joke to tell, it was amazing how he regularly came up with a new
one or better yet, how he could remember all of them! “What is the most common use
of Chicken Feathers?” If you know, you know!
Gordy was a father who was proud of his kids, someone who would listen when you
needed to talk and who you could go to for advice. He was handy, could fix anything,
and knew how important it was to “put things back in their place”. The radio was always
on in the car, and he always knew the best route to get there!
Cheers to “Just One More”
Gordy is survived by his children, Dan (Mary) Schingen, Brad Schingen, Amy Schingen
(Tom Wild); granddaughter, Ellie Schingen; and many nieces and nephews.
Gordy was preceded in death by his wife Marcia; son Brian; and parents Fred and Hilda
(Duwe) Schingen; sisters Grace Schingen, Jeanette (Arlett) Kaiser, Eileen (Robert)
Hoey, Evelyn (George) Manaitis, and Joan (Steve) Andrew; brothers Donald Schingen,
Jerome (Bernardine) Schingen, Conway (Gayle) Schingen, and Robert (Marge)
Schingen. Finally, his best fur buddies, Bugsy and Gertie.
Thank you to the staff at Maple Meadows Assisted Living, especially Kim, Chloe, Alisha,
James, Jean, Amy, and April for caring for Gordy this past year and for keeping his
phones and TV remotes all within reach! A thank you also to Social Worker, Sammy
from Preceptor Hospice for your compassion and for being a good listener.
SERVICES: Gordy’s family invites relatives and friends to Zacherl Funeral Home, 875
E. Division Street, Fond du Lac, for a time of visitation on Monday, September 18, 2023
at 11:00 A.M until 12:45 P.M. A Liturgy of the Word will follow visitation at 1:00 P.M.
Entombment will take place following the service at Ledgeview Mausoleum.
Gordy will be missed by many. Those who would like to honor him with a memorial
contribution are asked to contribute to the Friends of Lakeside Park, 15 5th Street Fond
du Lac, WI 54935.