Edward K. Schiele

Edward K. Schiele

The world has lost a renaissance man. After nearly 73 years, Edward K. Schiele passed away early Sunday morning, November 2, 2025. He is survived by his beloved wife, Susan of 43 years; his two sons, Richard and Egon (Erin Delaney); as well as his elder sister, Evelyn. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rosa and Karl Schiele.

Remembered for his boundless energy and passion for the arts, Edward was an accomplished woodworker, painter, and gardener. Throughout his life, he built exquisite furniture and loved making carvings -- a skill he learned from his father Karl -- many of which famously adorn his family home across from Libertyville High School. As a painter, his work is proudly hung in many of his friends' homes and he never stopped working on his latest canvas, even when his pancreatic cancer made nearly all else impossible.

An incredibly intelligent man, he held a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois ('76) and an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management ('81). Ed worked for H.C. Starck, as an expert in high-purity tantalum powders and was co-author of two patents. In his position as Worldwide Safety Officer he traveled widely: from England and Germany to Thailand, Japan, and Hong Kong. He wound up being a million-mile flyer on three separate airlines!

His favorite place, however, was probably at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, where his inescapable wit and scathing sense of humor could be heard punctuating the park at every classical performance. For those of us who loved him, his endless passion for music will be his most enduring memory. He particularly loved opera and was a continuous season ticket holder at the Lyric Opera since 1979. He and his wife, Susan, were also subscribers to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Opera Theater, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Even as the cancer took its toll, he still managed to take his family to over 25 productions, sharing his love for classical music wherever he went.

We invite you to celebrate his life from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Burnett-Dane Funeral Home, 120 W. Park Avenue, in his hometown of Libertyville.

In lieu of flowers, we ask gifts be made to the Lyric Opera of Chicago in recognition of his life.

For info, 847-362-3009 or share a memory at www.burnettdane.com.