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Wendall H. Schrader
"Somehow, in my mind, I felt he could live forever - and now he will in all of our hearts. I'll always remember the smile and voice of a man who made up a part of my childhood. We all loved Mr. Schrader and learned a lot from him."
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"We feel fortunate to have been able to know such a kind, generous, and caring man, and to have been able to experience the wonderful place he worked so hard to create. Take comfort in the fact that he was able to bring so many wonderful experiences and happy days into the lives of hundreds of girls."
-Nicolet Campers-
"I will always remember him alongside Mrs. Schrader in their golf cart driving around camp and making sure we were all happy."
-Nicolet Camper -
"I have so many fond memories of Mr. Schrader. His quiet strength embodied the true "Spirit of Nicolet". Indeed, his talents were legendary. Our football hero built every cabin and building at camp, every bunk and rope-handled drawer! Whether or not this was fact, we knew it to be true. He was a kind and gentle grandfather to all the "Nicolet ladies". It was a special honor to be chosen as the waitress for the head table and serve the family. I can still hear his soothing voice uttering a thank you or a compliment. He always remembered every girls' name, where she was from, and extra little details about each and every one of us.
I vividly remember Sunday nights, after cabin picnics of PB&J or bologna, rushing to the Little Theater to see what movie Mr. Schrader had chosen for the evening. We'd crowd
into the benches, mosquitoes buzzing, to enjoy the two reel film. There would always be an intermission when we would gather outside to stretch and get a breath of fresh night air.
Mr. S. would have to rewind reel one and feed reel two. Of course, he'd come outside with Velvet and talk with everyone during the whole process. After the movie ended (perhaps it was "The Parent Trap" or "Old Yeller") we'd all sing, "Put your foot on the loud loud bang bang pedal, let's make a lot of noise..." in his honor.
I was especially privileged to go on the Canadian with him in 1972. Our cabin of A.C.s in Chalet, accompanied by Sally Davis and Mr. Schrader, spent five days in the Canadian Boundary Waters. That was an experience that I will always treasure. It's the longest camping trip that I have ever taken. We passed the time canoeing, fishing, hiking, relaxing, singing, and just enjoying nature in the Canadian wilderness. It was the first time that I ever saw an American Eagle fly overhead. It was the first time that we experienced the splendor of the Northern Lights. We were all too squeamish to bait our fishing hooks, so Mr. Schrader baited every one. Of course, he had to remove ever fish that we caught as well. We Nicolet girls were excellent canoers, fire builders and cooks, but fishing was not our forte! We had no problem frying up the day's catch but unhooking and cleaning the fish was not for us. Yuck!
Just a few years ago, when we were visiting our daughter at camp, I had a nice visit with Mr. Schrader. He asked about my parents, my sisters, my cousins, our family business, even my grandparents in Florida! His memory was keen and his interest in others as sensitive as ever. Thank you for allowing me to flourish at Camp Nicolet and to be a part of your family. "Uncle Wendall" will always be in my heart and the Spirit of Nicolet will burn in my heart forever."
-Nicolet Alumna -
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Ann M. Schrader Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Camp Nicolet November 4, 1907 - December 3, 2001 Remembering a woman who was a dream weaver for little girls and young women and, through clear vision and strong spirit, lived her life as "Summer to the heart. " "My memories of Mrs. Schrader will be with me forever. I admired her dedication to all of us as campers. She made sure that we were safe, happy, and learning. I'm thankful at the end of each day when I find that those needs have been met in my daughter's life and mine." -Nicolet Alumna- |
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"I'll never forget my summers as a camper. I still smile as I remember Mrs. Schrader's gentle, but strong, guidance, whether it be through her charming stories or her instructions on manners and etiquette. Her presence lives on in the ways she has touched the lives of so many by establishing Camp Nicolet. Her spirit will live on in the hearts of all Nicolet girls -past, present and future." -Nicolet Staff Member-
"She taught me so much about life and was such a big influence that upon my return summer after summer, I felt I was returning to another summer with her and Mr. Schrader. How lucky I was to have four parents! I have always felt that when I "grow up" I would like to be a little bit of this person, and a little bit of that person, and a big part of Ann Schrader ." -Nicolet Alurnna-
"Pearly Shells is my trigger that never fails to remind me of Mrs. Schrader.
In my mind that song will always be her song. A small memorial for an amazing life" -Nicolet camper-
" Ann had much impact in the camping profession, especially in Wisconsin. She gave leadership with your dad on the Section Board and left fond memories and lasting heritage."
-ACA Wisconsin Section Executive-
"It's no secret how much she meant to me and what a tremendous effect she had on my
life. As a young camper I felt so safe under her strict, watchful eye and as I got older she displayed such confidence in me that I couldn't help but feel confident in myself.
She set such high standards for herself and her beloved Nicolet that you couldn't but help feel the same. It made me want to take care of it as well. Even staying at camp as an alum, I would never dream of hanging wet clothes over the rafters, chewing gum in camp, not wiping my shoes before I went into the cabin or if my feet were bare, not using the water bucket. She wanted all of us to treasure and respect the beauty of this very special place, just as she treasured and respected it, and because of her I don't think anyone left camp without a great appreciation of where they had been.
Mr. and Mrs. Schrader leave a tremendous legacy. They really do live on in the thousands of hearts of those they touched. They created this wonderful place where people left with so much more than they came with, whether it was a new physical skill, a greater sense about how to treat others, a heightened level of self-confidence, new life long friendships, a true appreciation for the beauty of the Northwoods, or an understanding that saying you were unable to do something was not an option, you had to at least try.
They were wonderful people and I feel so blessed to have been apart of their dream of Nicolet. The spirit of Nicolet really does burn in our hearts forever." -Nicolet Alumna-
