Steven "Steve" Reuschlein

Steven Earl Reuschlein, beloved father, grandfather and brother passed away on February 15, 2026 at Oakwood Village in Madison. Born on October 3, 1947, Steve was the eldest of Earl and Rosemary (Markham) Reuschlein's five children. He attended Blessed Sacrament School and graduated from Edgewood High School in 1965. Steve went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison and, as he liked to say, majored in playing cards. Figuring his grades weren't going to save him, Steve enlisted in the US Army during the Vietnam War. He was stationed at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii and won awards for Soldier of the Month and Quarter. Following his service, he returned to the UW to play more cards and finish his degree before joining Earl in his accounting practice.

A lifelong competitor in many pursuits, Steve was an accomplished bridge player and achieved Diamond Life Master rank in the American Contract Bridge League. He met Diana Sue Paddock through mutual bridge friends and they were married on July 31, 1976 at St. Paul's on campus. Together, they raised their daughter Alison and traveled frequently as a family to regional and national bridge tournaments. Even after he lost his partner in bridge and life in 2007, Steve continued to compete for nearly twenty years. 

Besides bridge, Steve loved backgammon and was an avid golfer for much of his life. His best round was back in Honolulu while in the Army but that didn't stop him from trying to top it for the next several decades. He also enjoyed reading a good thriller, rooting for his beloved Badgers and Packers and making a wry joke at just the right time. Steve was a member of St. Bernard Catholic Church in Middleton and frequented the evening mass, believing it to be the more humane alternative to morning worship. Over the years, Steve used his accounting background to benefit several local organizations as a board member including Eagle School and Maplewood of Sauk Prairie. In his adulthood, Steve overcame many health challenges with an optimism and resiliency befitting only a two-time past president of the West Madison Optimist Club (which he was).

Steve spent the last 6 years of his life living at Oakwood where he delighted in visits from his grandchildren, defeated backgammon opponents online, was particular about anything and everything and played his last hands of bridge. It was, in his estimation and ours, time well spent.

Steve is survived by his daughter Alison Wood (Jess Schuknecht), his grandchildren Ella Rose and Eli Steven Wood, his siblings Robert Reuschlein (JoAnn Oravec), Richard (Janeen) Reuschlein and Suzanne (Dietrich) Gruen, many nieces, nephews, cousins, loving in-laws and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and his youngest brother John Reuschlein.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 20, 2026 at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 2015 Parmenter St., Middleton, WI, with Fr. Brad Grobbel presiding. A visitation will take place at the church one hour prior to the Mass, from 10:00-11:00 a.m., and on Thursday, February 19, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Ryan Funeral Service Legacy Center, 6728 Mader Dr., Madison, WI.

To view this obituary or leave a memory, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com

Ryan Funeral Service & Legacy Center
6728 Mader Drive
608-274-1000