Scott M. Huelsman

Waunakee - Scott M. Huelsman (1962 - 2025)

December 17, 1962 - January 30, 2025

It is with great sadness that the family of Scott Mark Huelsman, 62, of Waunakee, WI, announce his death on Thursday, January 30, 2025, after a short courageous battle with a rare, aggressive form of pancreatic cancer. He was able to remain in the comfort of his own home, with his cherished family nearby and his beloved wife at his side.

Scott was born in Fond du Lac, WI, on December 17, 1962, to Robert L. Huelsman and Linda E. (Wischnefski) Huelsman and graduated from L.P. Goodrich High School there in 1981. He married his junior high school sweetheart, Michelle Pevonka, July 30, 1983 and they remarried on July 30, 2024.

In early 1983, Scott entered the U.S. Air Force with his brother, Rob and they completed basic training in San Antonio, Texas together. Afterwards, their paths diverged, and Scott became a Digital Flight Simulator Specialist for the F-4 Phantom fighter jet at Homestead Air Force base in Florida. After honorable discharge in 1987, Scott returned to Wisconsin. There he attended UW Milwaukee, and graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science.

After working as an environmental engineer for 3 years, Scott decided to live his dream career and true passions: computer programming, writing epic stories, and role player gaming (RPG), Dungeon & Dragons style. He went into business for himself and created Spectrum Multimedia in 1994 to produce and market his previously written media novel "Convictions". Continuing with the theme from his novel, Scott launched BrowserQuests in 2016, a free, interactive online fantasy RPG complete with text, audio clips, custom graphics and music. Thousands of players from all over the world have enjoyed the game!

Scott worked independently as a contractor, consultant, programmer, content developer, and webmaster, with his own business "Digital Age Development", later re-branded "The Huelsman Way" from 1995 - 2025. In 2008, Scott began his career with the state of Wisconsin as a webmaster, first with the Department of Transportation, then the Department of Natural Resources, and finally the Department of Public Instruction, until his early retirement in late 2024.

Since his teen years, Scott played sports: softball, tennis, racquetball, volleyball, and especially basketball. For the last 25 years, Scott was an integral part of an informal older men's basketball league at the Sun Prairie Athletic Club, playing 2-3 times weekly, except for periodic breaks to recover from sprains, strains, and broken bones! He valued highly the friendships and support he found there.

Music, particularly playing the piano, was a vital part of Scott's life starting at age 5. He's a huge fan of Barry Manilow's music, thanks to his father giving him an album in 1974. As his cancer progressed, Scott's wife Michelle requested he record himself playing and singing, as a lasting gift to her. Unbeknownst to her until after his death, he recorded 32 videos in early December and uploaded them to YouTube:

Scott Huelsman @Senyors72

During that same time period, Scott created a personal website so he could be remembered for the parts of his life most important to him.

https://lifeofsmh.com/

Scott is survived by his wife and love of his life, Michelle, brother Rob (Melissa) Huelsman, sister Jodi Huelsman, son Douglas (Kim) Huelsman, daughter Bekki Huelsman, stepsons Logan Madson, James Czaplicki, and Jason (Anna) Lampman, stepdaughter Marsha (Reed) Kath, grandchildren Reiloni Huelsman, Trinity Kath, R.J. Kath, Kaz Lampman, Raddix Lampman, and Arrow Lampman, uncle Ken (Helen) Huelsman, aunts Maxine Neas, Nancy Kimpel, and Linda Huelsman, nieces Emily (Joel) Kreuziger, Kristine (Matt) Olsen, nephews Andrew (Hannah) Huelsman, James (Sam) Henkel, Garrett Henkel, and George Henkel, grandniece Maddie Kreuziger, and numerous cousins.

Additionally, Scott is survived by his current in-laws Bridget (Dale) Pevonka, Jean Pevonka, Andrew (Holly) Pevonka, Bethany (Barry) Rusch and their children Ava and Miles Rusch, mother-in-law Diane Pevonka, father-in-law Don Wuest, numerous former in-laws, and a multitude of friends, especially the "Old Man Basketball League" at the Sun Prairie Athletic Club.

Scott was preceded in death by his wife of 19 years Susan Huelsman, sister-in-law Cecelia Gee, mother Linda Huelsman, father Robert Huelsman, uncles John, Dennis and Terry Huelsman, Bruce Wischnefski, and Larry Kimpel, aunts Mary (Huelsman) Duck, and Kathy Huelsman, maternal grandparents Della and Herbert Wischnefski, paternal grandparents Oscar and Doris Huelsman.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at SSM Hospice, especially registered nurse Lauren Winter, for the loving care and support our cherished Scott received. We're so grateful for the way you made it possible for him to remain in his home, despite how fast everything progressed in just 6 days.

A Celebration of Life for Scott is planned for Sunday, February 23, 2025 from 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm at Barnwood Events, 3230 Larsen Road, Madison, WI 53711. Eulogies at 2 pm, military honors with a 21 gun salute at 3 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to a fund to create a living memorial in the Waunakee area. That is truly the best way to honor Scott's philosophy of life: make a positive difference in the world, starting in your own community, and take care of the natural environment.

In light of Scott's commitment to science and desire to improve diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer, the family donated his body to the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) in Milwaukee.