Editor’s note: This blog is a tribute to Cathy Schuldt, owner of Butler Wire & Metal Products Inc., Menomonee Falls. Schuldt passed away Wednesday. The tribute is written by Jerald (Jerry) Skoff, president Badger Metal Tech Inc., Menomonee Falls.
Dear friends of manufacturing:
I write bringing some very sad and shocking news that I just found out about. I am sure you remember SAMnow and all of our efforts to Save American Manufacturing. We were featured in a cover story about "America’s Other War" written by Steve Jagler in the old Small Business Times on March 7, 2003.
One of SAMnow’s founders, Cathy Schuldt, owner of Butler Wire & Metal Products Inc. in Menomonee Falls, passed away unexpectedly on Feb 25, 2009, from colon cancer.
I do not know all of the details, except that she had been feeling ill for the past few weeks. Scott, her son called me last evening to inform me. Cathy was a great lady, a fighter and such a generous giving person. She also tried her damnedest to warn about what is happening to our economy, middle class and the dumbing down of the American people.
It is so sad, that now that Congress and our government are starting to wake up to the fact that manufacturing is the lifeblood of our once vibrant and strong economy, that Cathy will not be around to enjoy the fruits of her labor and dedication to the cause.
During her life, she touched many people. Over the years, we had grown to become very dear friends. Just recently on Dec 12, she got married to Randy Demett. For their honeymoon, they went on an extended vacation and just got back a few days before Valentine’s Day.
Now she is gone.
I spoke with her just a week or so ago. Scott said it was colon cancer. But no one knew about her having this.
She will really be missed by me and I am sure by all of the SAMnow supporters and many, many others whose lives she touched while here with us. I loved that girl. Her loss leaves a huge hole in my life – a joy that will be hard to fill.
Jerald (Jerry) Skoff, president Badger Metal Tech Inc., Menomonee Falls, co-founded SAMnow (Save American Manufacturing) with Cathy Schuldt. To read the original 2003 cover story about SAMnow, click here. To read a sidebar about the perils of American manufacturers shifting production overseas, click here.
