Debra “Deb” Eileen Schley, age 63 of the Town of Bear Creek, early riser, animal lover, and skilled gardener, passed away on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at Thedacare Neenah Hospital, following a series of medical complications.

Deb was skilled at a wide variety of tasks and dedicated to whatever she put her mind to. She spent the entirety of her working career at Great Lakes Veneer, taking on various roles throughout the company. Whatever role she held, she always worked hard and did her best to do the job well. She retired in 2022 but remained in contact with many of her close friends and coworkers.

Deb could get along with just about anybody and was warm and willing to talk with everyone. She was calm and kind-hearted and would listen to all perspectives and voices. She especially enjoyed talking with friends and family on the phone sometimes into the wee hours of the morning, only to pick up the phone again with just a few short hours of sleep and talk with someone else.

She married Alan Jon Schley on May 5, 1984, at Christus Lutheran Church. Together they had two children, Jeff Schley and Laura Schley, and together proved to be the absolute best role models any child could ask for. Their marriage was a true partnership with each bringing and sharing their strengths. The love they shared through both good times and bad, was a rare and beautiful thing.

Deb traveled extensively and dreamed of being a snowbird to escape the winter chill. She traveled with family to all sorts of destinations from Branson, MO to Costa Rica, and England. She was an avid planner and notetaker preparing for each trip seemingly weeks beforehand and finding joy in experiencing all sorts of new foods, sights, and experiences along her travels.

Deb fully enjoyed life and truly is a testament to a life well lived. Deb took joy in simplicity, a well-told joke, and a job well done. Playing bingo with friends and family was a fairly newfound pleasure that she enjoyed updating all on and sharing her wins with such excitement and glee. In addition to game nights, she also enjoyed swimming with friends. She loved the calm beauty of water any moment she could but also pushed herself to tread water and swim longer each time she went.

Movie nights with the family were always a highlight. You could find Deb snuggled in a blanket with her faithful pets, watching old reruns of classic shows like MASH or garbage horror movies accompanied by homemade popcorn. She could make the absolute best homemade popcorn (the secret is browning the butter.)

In the warmer months, you could find Deb outside earning her perpetual flip-flop tan. She enjoyed spending time in the garden weeding and planting assorted veggies and flowers. With the work and joys of gardening, also came the work and joys of preserving the harvest. Deb would spend the hot summer days preparing and canning all sorts of vegetables for the cold winter months. This is one of many invaluable skills she has passed on to Laura. If she wasn’t tending to the garden, she was taking care of her lawn or other tasks outside, usually wrapping the evening up by watching the sunset on the backyard glider.

Deb is survived by her mother, Bonnie Hidde; children, Jeff and Laura; siblings, Gary, Dale (Barb), and Ricky (Sandy) Hidde; sisters-in-law, Pat Schley, Ann (Kenny) Fuller, and Cynthia Schley; faithful dog Buster, hellion cat Twig and Molly; and many friends and family too numerous to list but not forgotten. She is preceded in death by her father, Harold Hidde; parents-in-law, John and Betty Schley; husband, Al Schley; brother-in-law, Matt Schley; sister-in-law, Diana Hidde; and nephews, Brian Hidde and Chris Hidde.

We know you made do with watching the sunsets these past two years without Al, but now you both have some of the best seats in the house to enjoy the sunsets together. It can’t be said enough, how much we miss you, but there is some peace in knowing you are with Al again. Sending our love to you.

Visitation and service will be held at the northern Eberhardt & Stevenson Funeral Home location (53 N. Main St. Clintonville) on Thursday, December 12, 2024. Visitation is to begin at 9:00 am with service starting at 11:00 am. Reception to immediately follow at Mathew’s Supper Club from 12:00 pm – 4:30 pm

The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory, Clintonville is assisting the Schley family.

An online guestbook is available at eberhardtstevenson.com.