On Wednesday, January 12, 2022 Wade Wesley Schoen, 63, passed away peacefully at his home in Douglas, Wyoming with his loving wife by his side.
Wade was born to Henry Fredrick and Janet Lee (Wildish) Schoen on Monday, April 14, 1958 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He joined his sister, Robin, and later came his younger sisters, Melody and Darcy.
The family moved to Wyoming in 1963 to Chugwater, where he attended elementary and junior high school. While living on the Brown Ranch he became a part of the McGuire family and a lifelong friendship remained. He then attended Saratoga High School, in Saratoga, Wyoming where he played on the 1974 undefeated football team and the following year became the Heavyweight State Champion in wrestling. Wade graduated from Tongue River High School in Dayton, Wyoming in 1976.
Wade married JoAnn (Miller) Vela, October 10, 1979. They made their home in Dayton as he worked on the Masters Ranch. Together they raised her children, Jason Vela and Justine (Vela) Race. Wade shared his love of hunting, trapping, fishing, 4-wheeling, guns, and roping with his family. He was a member of the Padlock Roping Club where he enjoyed many Sundays roping’s with great friends. Wade began working at Spring Creek Coal in June of 1980. His work ethic was second to none and there wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix. He was a jack of all trades and a bit of a perfectionist with his work. In 1990, the family moved to Douglas when he transferred to Antelope Coal. In 1994, he and JoAnn divorced.
Wade continued his career as a dragline operator at Antelope Coal where he met and later married Leslie Earl, November 22, 2005. Together they worked on the same crew until his 40+ year career ended in November of 2021, after becoming ill with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Throughout their years together they were happiest at hunting camp in Dubois, Wyoming or fishing at Flaming Gorge. They had many adventures together traveling for work and fun. Together they went to Australia on a flip program through the mine and enjoyed fishing trips to Fort Peck and Alaska. A major accomplishment of his was when he drew and filled a highly coveted Wyoming sheep tag. On his days off he was always helping friends or they were helping him on one of his many projects. Wade worked hard and played even harder. He and Leslie’s friends meant the world to him and it showed by the number of visitors he had in his last weeks. He was a mentor to many and those that worked alongside him can attest to the knowledgeable, hardworking man he was.
When his work schedule allowed, he enjoyed watching his grandsons play football, baseball and wrestle. He loved and was proud of all his grandsons and always encouraged them to stay focused on their goals and never get out worked.
He is survived by his wife, Leslie Schoen, of Douglas; his father, Henry Schoen, of Dayton; his sisters, Robin (Jim) Belden; Melody Stetzenbach; and Darcy Schoen, all of Sheridan, Wyoming; his mother-in-law, Kit Earl of Torrington, Wyoming; his sister-in-law, Laura Earl of Florida; his brother-in-law, Mike (Catherine) Earl of Malaysia; his son, Jason Vela, of Dayton; his daughter, Justine (Eric) Race, of Gillette; his six grandsons, Julian Vela, Derek (Tayci) Vela, Justin Vela, Brandon Vela, Kaden Race, Tanner Race and his nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Janet Schoen, on June 13, 2014 and his father-in-law, Harry Earl, on July 6, 2018.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday, February 19, 2022 at 4:00 P.M. at the Samuel Mares American Legion Post #8, located at Sixth and Oak Streets in Douglas.
The Gorman Funeral Homes – Converse Chapel of Douglas, Wyoming assisted with the arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of WADE WESLEY SCHOEN, please visit our floral store.