Lorraine E. Schurman

Lorraine Elizabeth Scardina Schurman

Lorraine was born on October 15th, 1933, in Chicago, IL, the 3rd of four children to Margaret and Anthony Scardina (Pops). Lorraine passed away peacefully at home on September 19th, 2026. Just one month shy of her 93rd birthday.

Lorraine’s childhood was spent between Chicago and Wisconsin. She attended grammar school at St. Philip Benizi Catholic School in Chicago for 8 years. She attended high school at St. Clara Academy at the Sinsinawa Mound in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin. Lorraine always loved to work with numbers. After graduation, she worked at La Salle National Bank in accounts payable in Chicago. While attending her high school friend Frieda Schurman’s wedding in Lancaster, Wisconsin, Lorraine met the love of her life John A. Schurman. They were married on November 17th, 1956, at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church in Chicago, IL and were married for 40 years.

After they wed, they settled down in Lancaster, Wisconsin, to not only start their family but to also build their business. Working together side by side at the Five-points cheese factory. They owned many cheese manufacturing plants in the Southwest Wisconsin area along with the Schurman Brothers, until they consolidated them all into one plant which was Schurman’s Butter and Cheese in Lancaster in 1972. They sold out to Wisconsin Dairies in 1977 and started Schurman’s Wisconsin Cheese Country cheese packaging plant in Beetown, Wisconsin.

Lorraine and John’s hard work and dedication together provided them with great opportunities such as traveling to Switzerland, Germany, Amsterdam, Russia and many more places. When they weren’t traveling the world together, they hosted many parties and events, most notably Spaghetti on the board, an Italian tradition. What started humbly in their garage at Five-Points in 1980, quickly grew to large masses being hosted in Beetown with over 150 people in attendance up until 1997, and we continue honoring that tradition to this day with our family reunion in Wisconsin Dells. After John’s passing, Lorraine continued to travel with her sister-in-law, Betty, who was one of her closest and dearest friends.

Lorraine was known for her powerful and unwavering faith. She was an active member in St. Clement parish as a Eucharist minister, bringing communion to nursing homes and the infirm. She served on the decoration committee, which she took great pride in. She also loved being involved with St. Clements fall festival and helped cater many wedding and funeral receptions in the church basement.

Lorraine curated a life full of family, friends, and above all love. She made anyone around her feel seen and heard; always asking for life updates, selflessly making sure you were okay before she could take a sigh of relief. Even if it was just a wink from across the table, it felt like a hug laced with love. Her spitfire personality and unmistakable wit lit up any room she walked into. She was the life of the party, and the party was anywhere she was. Be it a birthday, card club, or a trip to the grocery store there was always someone to say hi to and leave them smiling with a glow. She was a one-of-a-kind woman, whose self-assuredness never faltered even down to being the proudest Chicago Bears fan in Lancaster. She spread her vivacious spirit and blessings to all she knew through the guidance of her faith and devotion to God. The truth is, Lorraine was the blessing God gave to us. She was an angel on Earth, finally returning home.

Lorraine is survived by her children: John (Sherri) Schurman and Rosalie (Jim) Morgan; her grandchildren: Jacob (Felicia) Schurman, Antonia (Cody) Seargent, Andrew Schurman; great-grandson, Levi Seargent; her sister-in-law, Kathy Scardina; and many nieces and nephews.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her husband, John A. Schurman and has waited 29 years to be reunited with him. Her parents, Anthony and Margaret Scardina; her brother, Frank (Lee) Scardina; her sister, Virginia (Bob) Phelan; her brother Anthony “Butch” Scardina; her nephew, Frank R. Scardina; her niece, Heather Rogers; and members of the Schurman family.

In lieu of plants, flowers and memorial gifts a Lorraine E. Schurman memorial fund has been established with proceeds being given to local charities and the Wendt Regional Cancer Center in honor of John A. Schurman.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Noon at St. Clement Catholic Church in Lancaster with Father Mark Miller officiating. Burial will be held in St. Clement Cemetery, South Lancaster Township. Family and friends may visit on Thursday, October 1, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church. Kramer-Grau Funeral Homes & Crematory in Lancaster is assisting the family.