Judith “Judi” A. Schlaman

September 27, 1938 - April 11, 2026

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Private

In lieu of flowers, memorials donations appreciated to:

Stritch Family Literacy Center

Kristine Lize

2400 E Hartford Ave

Milwaukee, WI 53212

– OR –

The Alzheimer’s Association

Judith Ann (Bromley) Schlaman, 87, of Germantown, WI, passed away peacefully on April 11, 2026. Judi was born on September 27, 1938 to Walter and Julia Bromley in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Growing up, Judi was the big sister to her brothers Frank, Walt, and John. She was an equestrian and swimmer, and she played baseball and field hockey while attending Bloomfield Hills High School. After graduating high school in 1957, Judi attended Hillsdale College. There, she studied elementary education and became an initiated member of Chi Omega sorority. Judi also met the love of her life at Hillsdale: Michael James Schlaman.

After graduating early from Hillsdale, Judi taught in Frasier, Michigan while earning a certificate in Child Development from the Merrill Palmer Institute in Detroit. On June 23, 1961, Judi and Mike married and began their life together in the Detroit area. Ever dedicated to expanding her teaching knowledge, Judi earned a Master’s degree in education from Eastern Michigan University while teaching in Inkster, Michigan. Judi taught until she and Mike welcomed their daughter Julie to the family in 1966. Two years later, Michael James, Jr. was born, and the Schlaman family was complete.

In the late 1960’s, Judi cofounded St. Clare Nursery School in Farmington, Michigan, with her close friend and sorority sister, Glorie Stonisch. Judi taught there until the Schlaman family moved to Wisconsin in 1976. While in Wisconsin, Judi taught fiber arts courses in knitting and sewing at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), and helped to open a knitting store in Mequon. In 1989, Judi and Mike returned to Michigan, where Judi earned additional graduate credits at Oakland University and taught at Mark Twain Elementary School in Pontiac. At Mark Twain, Judi was a first grade teacher and grade-level department head until she retired.

Throughout her life, Judi tackled myriad creative projects with patience, perfection, and the mind of an engineer. Frequently, she’d stay up all night redoing a challenging sewing project, finishing a knitted blanket, or wallpapering a room. In the 1970s, Judi designed and created beautifully painted wooden Christmas ornaments, which are seen on the trees of friends and family to this day.

There was nothing Judi could not do: she reupholstered furniture; designed and soldered silver jewelry; canned applesauce and strawberry jam; made yogurt and sourdough bread. Judi was a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader; she played golf and tennis; and she ferried the kids to swimming lessons and hockey practice.

Judi was a devoted wife and a loyal friend. Judi’s smile, laugh, and creative mind will be missed by all who knew her. Above all, Judi will be remembered as a gifted and dedicated teacher, especially to those most in need.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Julia Bromley, her beloved Aunt Jean and Uncle Dickie Hillis; and her sisters-in-law Sandy and Robin Bromley. She is survived by her husband, Michael Schlaman, Sr., her children Julie (Bob) Norman, Michael (Kirsten) Schlaman, Jr.; her grandchildren Liam (Elisabeth), Patrick, and Lily Norman; Brendan, Jason, and Lauren Schlaman; brothers Walt (Nancy), Frank, and John Bromley; and many loving nieces and nephews.