DuWayne Robert Kleinschmidt passed away on Sunday, January 13, 2019 in Wausau, Wisconsin. He was born on July 24, 1943, to Robert and Hilda Kleinschmidt in the Town of Scott in Lincoln County, Wisconsin. He grew up on a small dairy farm and spent many hours working with his parents. He maintained a fondness for agriculture and the farm. His two children and grandson still own a portion of the farm, which is now in a forestry program.
DuWayne attended Trinity Lutheran School in Merrill and graduated from Merrill High School in 1961. He completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education at UWSP with a major in mathematics and minor in physics. He also received a Master’s Degree in Mathematics from Utah State University and earned Ph. D. credits in Administration from UW-Madison.
He met Diane Jean Lambrecht at the Lincoln County Fair in 1959 and they married August 14, 1965. They have two children, Jennifer and Robert, and one grandson, Kolby.
DuWayne absolutely loved his family. Whether it be x-country or downhill ski trips, camping, biking, hiking, travelling, or baseball games, he truly enjoyed spending time with them.
DuWayne was a committed educator. He was a proud member of the Wausau Education Association (serving as president and negotiator in the 70’s), Wisconsin Education Association, National Education Association, Wisconsin Mathematics Council, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Association of Curriculum Development (president in 1995), Wisconsin Retired Educators Association, and Marathon County Retired Educators.
He taught mathematics at Urban Junior High School in Sheboygan before moving to Wausau, where he taught at the old Horace Mann Junior High, Wausau Senior High, and Wausau West. He was the mathematics coordinator for the Wausau School District from 1974-1986. The last 15 years of his career, he served as the Director of Secondary Education. He taught courses for the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, Eau Claire and Superior. Upon retirement, he coordinated and taught a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership for Cardinal Stritch University. In the mid-80s he was a consultant with IBM and the Writing to Read program.
He was instrumental in bringing Japanese foreign exchange teachers to the Wausau School District and was the city of Wausau’s education delegate in 1995 who travelled to China for the Sister City project.
DuWayne was particularly proud that during his tenure on the Board of Directors for the Wausau Performing Arts Foundation an educational partnership developed with the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and the program of children’s performances developed.
DuWayne was a Habitat for Humanity volunteer, serving for two years as president of the Board of Directors. The relationship between Habitat and the construction trades classes in area high schools was of particular pride for him.
In his retirement years, DuWayne and wife, Diane, enjoyed travelling nationally and internationally and spending time in their vacation home in Seagrove Beach, Florida.
It is with great appreciation for the Wausau School District that he established the DuWayne R. Kleinschmidt Scholarship Trust to be given annually to a student at Wausau West and Wausau East.
He is survived by his wife, Diane, of 53 years, son Robert Kleinschmidt and grandson Kolby Kleinschmidt, and daughter Jennifer (Joel) Chandler. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Hilda (Wendt) Kleinschmidt, and sister Sally.
A visitation will be held Friday, January 18 from 4pm – 8pm at Brainard Funeral Home, 522 Adams Street, Wausau. A Celebration of Life in his memory will be held this summer.
Memorials in DuWayne’s memory may be made to the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin.
The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Hamied Rezazadeh and the outstanding staff at the Aspirus Cancer Center and Aspirus Wausau Hospital’s Oncology Unit for the exceptional treatment and care.
To share memorial and condolences, please visit www.brainardfuneral.com