Jerry L. Schell

Jerry L. Schell died on August 25, 2025 due to a massive stroke.  He was born on May 19, 1935 to Roy and Izetta (Miller) Schell.  He grew up in Excelsior and attended the first eight years of school there and graduated from Blue River High School in 1953. 

Jerry started working for his dad’s trucking business at the age of twelve by hauling milk and later delivering stock to Dubuque and Madison through high school.  He spent over fifty years in the cheese making industry as a licensed cheesemaker, licensed butter maker, and cheese grader. Jerry was a field representative, trouble shooter and cheesemaker instructor not only in Wisconsin but throughout the United States, Ireland, South Wales, Germany and Canada.  After retiring at the age of 70, he consulted on cheese making for ten years.  In 2010 Jerry started a cheese plant in Tempe, Arizona which currently processes fifteen million pounds of milk per day. 

Jerry was a member of the Blue River United Methodist Church and has served as a church trustee and Sunday school teacher.  He was a Master Mason for over 65 years in the Muscoda and the Richland Center Masonic Lodges.  Jerry served terms on the Blue River Village Board as a trustee and on the Riverdale School board.  He was a member of the Blue River Fire Department for seventeen years.  Jerry made five trips with the Volunteers In Mission (VIM) helping with clean up in areas affected by Katrina and maintenance work in Iowa and other states.  He was also a member of the Ancestors of Richland County Hills genealogy group.

Jerry was married to Nell Carpenter for fifty-seven years until her death in 2012.  Nell was a long-time teacher in the Riverdale School district. 

Jerry loved to follow the stock market and talk about investments.  After retiring, he joined the Backroad Express Riders and was like a little boy again riding off on adventures with the Honda Urban Express riders. 

Survivors include his children, Mark (Sue) Schell, and Helen Mar (Terry) Adams; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; special friend Jane Adams; siblings, Judy (Marvin) Paulson, Terry (Diane) Schell, Lonnie (Millie) Schell; sisters-in-law, Pat Schell, Betsy Berry, and Beba Carpenter; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, and good neighbors.  Proceeding him, in addition to his wife and parents, were a brother, Gary Schell; and brothers-in-law, Bud Carpenter and John Berry; and best friend Kenny Eng.

There will be a private funeral service. Jerry will be buried in the Blue River Cemetery. The family wishes to thank Gundersen Boscobel Area Hospital for their wonderful care given to Jerry and his family in the final days of his life. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Riverdale Communities Education Foundation.  Remembrances may be mailed to:  Helen Mar Adams, 105 David St., Blue River, WI 53518.

Online condolences can be offered at www.kendallfuneralservice.com.

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