William “Bill” Schartner, 84, of Sturgeon Bay, passed away peacefully on March 6, 2026, with his family at his side.
Bill was born on April 4, 1941, in Sturgeon Bay, WI to William and Evelyn (Stoffel) Schartner. Bill attended elementary school at St. Joseph School and graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School with the class of 1959. On February 26, 1963, Bill married Leanne Lautenbach and together they shared 63 years raising five children. Bill proudly served in the United States Marine Corps. He later worked as a draftsman at Peterson Builder’s Inc., served as both a county and city police officer, and worked 30 years as a lineman with Wisconsin Public Service from where he retired.
Bill loved baseball and especially enjoyed the Door County Baseball League where he pitched and watched many games with family and friends. He was also an outdoor enthusiast and found great happiness in fishing, hunting and spending time in the woods around Door County and his many trips to Pembine, Hurley and Bayfield. Bill could talk for hours about things he enjoyed, and we will forever cherish the memories, stories and laughter he shared with us.
Bill will be deeply missed by his devoted wife Leanne; children, Scott Schartner, Mike Schartner, Kelly (Dave) Kudlik, Quinn (Marisa) Schartner, Lynlee (Pete) Hehli; grandchildren, Shae and Brynn; Kaylee and Josh; Paige; Anikah, Caden and Eva; Marissa, Karley, Carson, Faye, Logan and Griffin; great grandsons, Kaysen and Theo; sister-in-law Lisa (David) Jacobs; and nieces and nephews. Bill is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Anna Mae (Ralph) Smith and Elizabeth “Betsy” (Harold) Schopf, father and mother-in law, Louis and Florence (Tipler) Lautenbach; great granddaughter Ellie Lynn; and nieces and nephews.
A memorial service with military honors will be conducted at the Forbes Funeral Home at 2:00 pm on Friday, March 13, 2026. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 12:30 pm until the time of service. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to Sunshine House Inc. or Door CANcer Inc. in his name. Bill’s family would like to thank Unity Hospice for all their care and support.
