Stuart Carl Svoboda

Stuart (Stu) Carl Svoboda passed away on January 7, 2024, in Waunakee, WI, with his daughter, Laurie Svoboda Wegger, by his side. 

Stu was born on February 20, 1926, in Racine, Wisconsin, to Joseph and Mayme (Mikulecky) Svoboda.  In high school, he served as senior class president, played football and basketball, and served on school social planning committees before graduating from William Horlick High School in 1944. 

In World War II, Stu served as an Aviation Cadet in the Army Air Forces (which became the Air Force in 1947) from 1944 to 1945.  He also served as a duty non-commissioned officer (NCO), did maintenance on airplanes and engines, and worked on the gun range as an ordinance instructor.

After Stu's military service, he attended the University of Wisconsin--Madison and graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the School of Commerce in 1950.

Stu met Phyllis Dorothy Gister in Racine, and they married on November 15, 1952, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Racine.  They were married for more than 69 years until Phyllis' passing on January 9, 2022, and he then chose to continue to wear his wedding ring. 

Stu was employed at Modine Manufacturing in Racine as a Product Manager and Manager of Distribution, before moving to La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1960 to work at Trane Company, where he retired in 1986 as the Product Manager and Manager of Distribution of Residential and Light Commercial Heating and Air Conditioning Products.  Stu regularly traveled all over the United States for his work at Trane Company, and Phyllis often joined him as hostess at numerous sales conferences in Hawaii, Las Vegas, etc.  While living in La Crosse, Stu's and Phyllis' daughter Laurie was born.

After retirement, Stu and Phyllis traveled extensively, using his many frequent-flyer miles for trips to Greece, Norway, and Hong Kong.  They enjoyed cruises and followed the Badgers to Hawaii games and Bowl games, including two Rose Bowls.  In December 1992, they moved to DeForest, Wisconsin to be near their daughter Laurie.  While in DeForest, they were active in their Jefferson Square retirement community and attended and volunteered at Burke Lutheran Church.

Stu was a proud Badger alumnus as well as a Green Bay Packer shareholder, and he had many lifelong interests, including watching football, Brewers baseball, and NASCAR, playing Poker and pool, fishing and boating on the Mississippi, and bowling and dancing with his wife Phyllis.  He especially enjoyed going out to eat, often declaring a just-finished meal as the “best he’d ever had,” and he always seemed to find room for dessert -- in the last couple of years, he chose to eat dessert first or selected ice cream instead of any other meal options.  

Stu was always a dedicated son, husband, and father.  He (with his wife, Phyllis) budgeted carefully so that the family could go out to eat or on modest vacations (looking for all sales, coupons, discounts, and restaurant specials available!); encouraged and supported his daughter Laurie's education and celebrated her career achievements; and consistently showed appreciation to his family and others for making him a meal, taking him on an outing, visiting, or just helping him in some small way.

Stu is survived and will be missed and lovingly remembered by his daughter, Laurie Svoboda Wegger (Mike Collas); Brandon Collas and Brittany Collas (Cody Dieckow), for whom Stu was a grandfather figure for almost 20 years; brother-in-law Kerry Gister and sister-in-law Beth Gister; niece Susan (Ed) Bezek; nephews Elwood (Jody) Svoboda, Kevin (Lynda) Svoboda, Ryan Gister, Mark (Allison) Gister, Carey Gister (Cynthia Gutierrez), Brian Gister, and Andrew Gister (Daphne Bennett); great-nieces and great-nephews and their children, and other extended family; and lifelong friends in Racine, La Crosse, and DeForest, Wisconsin.

Stu was preceded in death by his wife Phyllis, newborn son, parents Mayme and Joseph, brother Woodrow Svoboda, sister-in-law Jill Svoboda, brother-in-law Earle Gister, sister-in-law Glynda Gister, and beloved dogs Lexi, Gretchen, and Mitzi.

As a World War II veteran, Stu will be interred with his wife Phyllis at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (also known as Punchbowl Cemetery) in Oahu, Hawaii.  A military honors ceremony will be scheduled when family can be present, so no local services or celebrations of life are planned.  Since Stu and Phyllis lived for so long in Racine, La Crosse, and DeForest, Wisconsin, shorter newspaper obituaries will be published in all three metro areas.

Stu would have said that flowers and donations in his memory were unnecessary.  However, since Stu was a military veteran and a dog lover, desired memorials may be made in his name to local or national charities that help veterans in need or animal rescues (such as the Dane County Humane Society or Underdog Pet Rescue in Madison, Wisconsin).

As Stu’s family, we would like to thank those who genuinely cared about him, while caring for him, over at least the last couple of years at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans (VA Health) Outpatient Clinics, SSM Health, Agrace, Waunakee Manor/Valley and Homestead Living. 

We are grateful that Stu and his wife Phyllis lived long, full lives, and we have had wonderful opportunities this past week to share stories and to look through photos, some of which are included below.  We encourage you to share any of your own memories and photos below.  If preferred, condolences may also be emailed to svobodasympathies@gmail.com or mailed to the family in care of the funeral home's West Allis address: Cremation Society of Milwaukee, 2729 S 108th Street, West Allis, WI 53227.

To quote Justin Cronin, "As long as we remember a person, they're not really gone..."