John Harold Schaecher

John Harold Schaecher passed away on January 18, 2026. John was born in San

Francisco, California on December 12, 1940. Although he had lived most of his

life in California, he had been a resident of Wauchula, Florida since 2017. He

and his wife of 54 years had spent the previous 18 years traveling in their

motorhome to every state in our wonderful United States. Health problems

eventually forced them to hang up their keys and settle down on their daughter's

and son-in-law's property.

During his working years, John had several different careers, including auto parts

sales, boat repairs, and container shipping customer service. He was happiest

when he was helping people solve their problems.

John had a lifelong passion for traveling. He would drive a different way to and

from work and around town just to see something different. This frequently

caused him to end up on dead-end streets or unfamiliar neighborhoods. He and

his wife, Madalyn, were part of the founders of the Nor Cal Van Club in the

1970s. While leading a caravan to an event, he frequently took them on

unknown roads and miles out of the way. Friends lovingly called the excursions

Shacker's Pass.

In 1999 John somehow convinced his wife that they should retire from their jobs,

buy a motorhome and travel around the country. They spent the next 18 years

having the biggest adventure of their lives. They visited most of the NASCAR

tracks, State Capitols, National Parks and Presidential Libraries in the United

States, while searching for the best potato salad in each state. They met

numerous people who are still wonderful long-distance friends.

John is predeceased by his parents, John and Muriel Schaecher, and one

brother, William Stockham, who passed away the day prior to John. He is

survived by his wife, Madalyn, one son, John Allen (Susan) Schaecher, two

grandsons, Timothy and Daniel, three brothers, James (Barbara) Stockham,

Robert (Rosemary) Stockham, David (Alyson) Stockham, and one sister, Debra

Del Rosario. He is also survived by Madalyn's daughters and son-in-law, whom

he loved like his own, Cindy and Randall Hand and Wendy Fiegel, as well as five

Hand grandchildren, Justin (Christin), Jeremy (Kasmera), Jessica (Heath

Prescott), Jennifer (Shane Conley), Jamilynn (Joshua Dotson), and nine great-

grandchildren.