Obituary: Stephen T. Schram

As received from the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home:

Stephen Thomas Schram, 70, formerly of Gladstone, Michigan, and
currently a resident of Washburn, Wisconsin, and Agate Harbor, Michigan,
passed away unexpectedly, August 2, 2021, on an adventure he was
thrilled to be part of, at Isle Royale National Park, in Michigan.
Steve, was born in Escanaba, Michigan, to Richard and Dorothy (Hill)
Schram on August 12,1950, and was a 1968 graduate of Gladstone High
School. He went on to attend Northern Michigan University where he
received a Bachelor of Science Degree, and then to Central Michigan
University where he received a Masters in Outdoor Recreation and Field
Biology. It was at CMU where he met his wife of 45 years, Ann Vivian, of
Laurium, Michigan.

Steve worked as a fisheries biologist for the Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources for 33 years, retiring in 2009. His work in fisheries
management focused on northern Wisconsin and Lake Superior. Later in
his career he became the Lake Superior Fisheries Supervisor. A few of the
fisheries habitats he managed with his fisheries “team,” were in the Brule
River, the St. Louis Bay estuary, the Apostle Islands and Chequamegon
Bay. Steve was a former member of the Wisconsin Chapter of the
American Fisheries Society, served on the Lake Superior Technical
Committee of the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission, and mentored many
fisheries graduate students from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens
Point.

After DNR life, a former runner for over forty years, Steve became a USATF
Certified Master Official working at numerous midwestern and national
meets. He was thrilled to be chosen as a volunteer for one of the past
USA Olympic Trials, in Eugene, Oregon. He was a gifted author, creating a
trilogy for elementary school children about two fish who live in Lake
Superior and travel the Great Lakes. He was passionate about Great Lakes
preservation and wanting kids to learn what is happening underneath the
water, and why they should care. Steve’s passion lives on in his writing.
Steve will be remembered as a person who was thoughtful, adventurous,
appreciated planet earth, lived his faith, and so much more.

Steve is survived by his wife Ann (Vivian) Schram of Agate Harbor,
Michigan and Washburn, Wisconsin. His children Benjamin (Sarah) of
LaPointe, Wisconsin, and Molly (Patrick) Isaacson of Eagan, Minnesota.
His grandchildren, Winter Schram, Sawyer Schram, and Samantha
Isaacson. His sister Susan (Dale) Jamison of Rapid River, Michigan. HIs
brother Jeffrey (Mary) Schram of Rapid River, Michigan. Sister-in-law Gail
(Don) Frantti of Laurium, Michigan. Many other relatives and friends.
On September 11, 2021, Rayford Ray will officiate at a private family
celebration of Steve’s life. Relatives and friends are invited to gather for
refreshments at Memorial Park, a place Steve loved all year around, in
Washburn, Wisconsin, from 2:30 pm – 4 pm the same day.

Steve’s family would like extend their gratitude to the Isle Royale National
Park Service staff, the EMT’s, Nicole the ER Nurse, Captain John Kilpela,
those who brought Steve back to the mainland, and all others, whose
names we don’t know, who helped. Thank you to the Keweenaw County
Deputy Aaron Hainault. Ann will never forget you. We would also like to
thank Aspirus Hospital in Calumet, Dr. Saeed, Dr. Jan Heikenen, Judy
Pruner, and Joe Panijan from the Erickson, Crowley, Peterson Funeral
Home.

Per Steve’s wishes, people may donate to the CMU Biological Research
Station at Beaver Island, Michigan ( Address: Central Michigan University,
Carlin Alumni House, Attention: Morgan Hales, 524 E. Bellows, Mount
Pleasant, Michigan 48858) Or the NMU Women’s Track and Field Program
(NMU Foundation-Track and Field Memorial Gift for Stephen Schram, 1401
Presque Isle Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855).