Michael A. Scheffler Obituary

Michael Alan ("Big Mike") Scheffler, born July 30, 1957, to Alan Scheffler and Grace Jozwiak, passed away Monday, December 15, 2025, and has now joined his Heavenly Father along with his mom, dad, stepdad Eugene Brzozowski, and his wife, Deborah, who passed away in 2019. Since Alan Scheffler passed away when Mike and his sister Lori were very young, Gene raised them as his own children along with Grace.

Since Deborah's passing Mike was sad and lonely. He found strength from his family, friends and the special needs group he volunteered with. In early 2024. Mike was diagnosed with cancer. His high school sweetheart, Sandy, saw on Facebook the struggles he was going through and reached out encouraging him to do what his doctors told him and to have faith. They started talking and seeing each other at their high school class beer garden gatherings that summer. The love they had for each other in high school came back stronger than ever. God brought together two people who were struggling and gave them a true unconditional love that many never find. Mike and Sandy started planning a life together that was cut way too short. Many say Deborah sent Sandy to Mike because she did not want him to be alone and wanted him to find love again.

Mike wore many hats during his lifetime. Mike left college after 3 years when he was hired as a letter carrier which he did for 17 years. Some of the stories he told about that would have you in stitches. He did route sales for Turano. He often talked about how the customers on his route fed him very well!! He was an usher and usher supervisor for 37 years for the Milwaukee Brewers, working many years in the wives' section. When he had some personal struggles, the player's wives asked their husbands to include Mike in their pregame Bible Study. Ultimately, Mike then started a pregame Bible Study for the ushers. He took training to become a youth pastor at his church and when members of the church saw how well he interacted with the youth, his wife Deborah and church members suggested he finish his teaching degree. Mike was a business education teacher at various schools, but when COVID hit and his position was eliminated, he worked as a school custodian in Waterford where he lived. While making and delivering pizzas for Brunos, he was known as Pizza Man! Mike also worked the Cream Puff drive throughs during the Wisconsin State Fair and controlled the lines in the Cream Puff building. This past summer he got Sandy to work Cream Puffs with him. It was hard work, but they had fun!

Mike always talked about the many family gatherings and Sunday picnics at Jackson Park growing up…here they played ball games and had lots of family fun! Friends and family have many stories to share about Mike. Two friends remembered a trip to Lake Camelot in a VW Volkswagen and arriving too late to set up camp. Picture this…the three of them sleeping in the bug with Mike laying in the back seat with his legs hanging out the window and a cooler resting on his chest; Little sister Sandy's kiddy pool set up in front of the garage blocking the basketball hoop…let's just say draining and moving the pool did not end well for Mike; there is also the story about sister Lori's tennis racket. It seems Mike holds the record for destroying the most basketball backboards in the neighborhood while dunking. He played varsity baseball in high school and was an avid sports fan. You could often find him and his friends climbing a fence to get into the stadium to watch baseball games. Mike was always full of shenanigans!

While Mike was separated from his children, Elizabeth, Chad and Kyle, He always talked about them and the fun he had with them as children. Mike thought of them daily and prayed one day they would be reunited. Nieces and nephews recall Mike as the "fun uncle".

Mike was a collector of many things…beer cans, beer signs, beer trays, bobble heads. If there was something to collect, he collected it. Mike started with beer cans when he was in high school. Sandy remembers him showing her some of them…one of which was a Sandy can. He is President of the Badger Bunch (beer can collecting group) which he loved being a part of. Road trips always included stops looking for special cans for his collection or for raffle prizes for the Badger Bunch shows. Mike didn't get rid of anything. In fact, he still had a cup Sandy gave him their senior year of high school, and we are told he saved ticket stubs from every event he attended.

The Next Step special needs family Mike volunteered with held a very special place in his heart. They gave him strength and happiness through his most difficult times. He had a special bond with each of the clients and their families. When he was sick, they sent him videos telling him they missed and loved him. He received blessings in the form of cards daily from them. Mike missed his friends so much! Each year when they had their art fair Mike purchased a couple art pieces and proudly hung them in his home.

A man of faith, Mike led a Godly life and always gave of himself to others, never expecting anything in return. He loved helping those in need, going on mission trips to Honduras, New Orleans after Katrina, and others. He wanted so badly to continue to help when disasters struck but his body would no longer allow him to do so. For many years Mike worked the Channel 36 auction which is where he met Deborah. He was a generous man sharing his time, talents and monetary resources with many. Matthew 25:23 sums it up…" Well done good and faithful servant!".

Mike will be greatly missed and is survived by his girlfriend, Sandy Grabarczyk; sisters Lori (Jeff), Sandy (Mike), Barb (Paul), Jackie and Jeannie; and brother Bobby (Renee). He is further survived by his daughter Elizabeth Kolling and her family; sons Chad and Kyle; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews; other family and many friends.

Amid our tears, O Lord, we praise you as you brought Mike to your glory for all eternity. Comfort us with the glorious hope of the resurrection and life eternal. Grant us grace to say with a loving heart "Thy will be done" and know that your will is a good and gracious will. Comfort us through the Gospel, which promises strength and help to the troubled and weary. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 13200 W. Greenfield Avenue in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Viewing and visitation will be at 10AM, followed by a service at NOON. The funeral service will then be followed by a luncheon in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to. Special Olympics as those with special needs were so dear to Mike's heart.