Michael Schnake

Michael Warren Schnake died peacefully, surrounded by his family, on February 22, 2025. He is survived by his devoted wife of 44 years, Tina Schnake, and daughters Elena Shephard (son-in-law Kyle), Abeje Schnake and Maya Schnake, grandsons Nathaniel and Ewan Shephard; sisters Carol Geballe (brother-in-law Adam) and Ann Schnake (brother-in-law Ed), Godson Ashton, son of niece Alexis, and many more loving in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Michael was born in Northern California in 1950, the eldest child of Jim and Zora Schnake, and big brother to Carol and Ann. He grew up in Oakland, California, a precocious and inventive child who built skateboards, played with chemistry kits, and was fascinated by Slavic history, mathematics, and all the boundaries he might push. He was also a wrestler and surfer and spent long hours exploring the local redwood forest.

Michael was a product of California Public Schools from kindergarten through law school.  He graduated from Oakland High School in the iconic year of 1968, participating fully in protests against the Vietnam War and the social movements of the moment. He went on to UC Santa Cruz with interests in philosophy and social justice. He had a deep love for the Pacific Ocean and the coastal mountain, forming his lifelong commitment to the environment and his way of seeing the intricacies of the natural world. He became a union organizer, first with the United Farm Workers Union in Salinas, California, and then with the United Steel Workers Union in East Chicago, Indiana. Michael spent a decade working as an electrician at J&L Steel, and during that time was an editor for the local 1011 Newspaper. He greatly contributed to organizing the boycott of South African coal for steel production, as part of the anti-apartheid movement.

His oldest daughter Elena was born in 1976. He met his wife Tina at J&L Steel in 1979 and they eventually traveled back to California for Michael to complete his degree at Stevenson College of UC Santa Cruz in 1985. He went on to Martin Luther King Law School at UC Davis; he practiced first as a labor lawyer with the Carpenter’s Union in Oakland and then as an immigration attorney before settling into criminal defense in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At Miller and Stanbury Law Firm, he was the only contracted public defender in Milwaukee who spoke Spanish. He then went into private practice as a criminal defense attorney, enacting his dedication to justice and advocacy for the accused. Michael and Tina’s twin daughters Maya and Abeje were born in 1999 and the family resided happily in Whitefish Bay and then Glendale. His greatest pride was in fatherhood and the accomplishments of his daughters: Elena, a doctor; Abeje, a writer; Maya, an actress. He took on the gardening and clean-up initiative at the local elementary school and followed every aspect of all three of his daughters’ academic and creative pursuits.

Michael was inquisitive, analytic, and unafraid to challenge, always standing by his beliefs and principles. He was also very witty but rarely lived by one of his favorite Shakespeare quotes, “Brevity is the soul of wit.”  He focused his attention on raising his children and enjoying life with Tina, always thinking of what could be investigated, what new food to try, which music to hear or play to see, and what political issue to explore. He cooked, gardened, and walked his dog Lucy for as long as he could, struggling valiantly with illness for many years.

Throughout his life, Michael was involved in the Serbian church, while always keeping an interest in the religions of the world. He explored Buddhism back in his days at UC Santa Cruz and again at the end of his life.

Gathering at Krause Funeral Home, 21600 West Capitol Drive, Brookfield, Wisconsin from 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM, with funeral service at 5:30 PM, on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.

Following the service, we will continue a Celebration of Michael’s life at 7:15 PM at Old Town Serbian Gourmet Restaurant, 522 West Lincoln Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Burial will take place Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 10:30 AM at Forest Home Cemetery, 2405 West Forest Home Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In lieu of flowers, you can plant a tree in honor of Michael, either in Wisconsin’s Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest or in California’s El Dorado National Forest.

Cards can be sent to 2228 West Daphne Road, Glendale, Wisconsin 53209.