Leroy "Skip" L. Zacher, age 82, passed on unexpectedly on October 29, 2025, in Oshkosh, WI.  He was born on January 30, 1943, to parents Alois and Margaret (Steffen) Zacher, in Wisconsin, one of three children.

Skip was interested in learning, teaching and liked keeping active and energetic.  After high school, he obtained his bachelor's degree at UW-Platteville, then his master's at UW-Stout, followed by his doctorate at the University of Texas.  He returned home to marry the love of his life, Marlene Shambeau, in 1969.

He taught journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh for over 30 years, until his retirement in the late 1990's.  Skip led the annual high School student conference on journalism.  A scholarship was created in his honor.

In his free time, he enjoyed fishing, hunting and developing 40 acres of land.  He was a talented Jack-of-all-Trades, had a strong work ethic and loved working with his hands up until his passing.

Skip and Marlene would spend time in Florida yearly as dual residents.  He was a kind, loving husband.  His laugh was contagious, and he could always make you smile.

He is survived by his wife, Marlene Zacher, sister Audrey (Ronald) Paddock; nieces, Renee (John) Laurich and Lisa (Pat) Dineen; nephews, Curtis (Jeanette) Shambeau and Scott (Terry) Paddock; as well as several other family members and friends.

Preceding him in his death were his parents, Alois and Margaret (Steffen) Zacher; sister, Shirley (Bill) Poenitsch; parents-in-law, Erwin and Hazel Shambeau; brother-in-law, Donald Shambeau.

Per his wishes, no funeral services will be held.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate in his memory to the Oshkosh Area Humane Society or the UW-Oshkosh Advertising, Multimedia Journalism and Public Relations Program Fund at UWO Foundation, 625 Pearl Ave., Oshkosh, WI 54901 or online at uwo.sh/give.



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Personal Biography Of Leroy "Skip" Zacher from UWO Booklet;



Skip Zacher

Leroy "Skip" Zacher's career had many twists and turns, but he said he wouldn't have had it any other way.

Zacher earned a bachelor's degree in industrial education from UW-Platteville and a master's degree in audiovisual from UW-Stout.

He started his teaching career in 1964 in West Allis, teaching industrial arts to junior high students. But he left in 1967, when Dave "Doc" Lippert hired him to teach half-time in journalism and the other half as director of photography in the audiovisual department for the University.

"But after two years, the university offered grants for teachers to get their doctorate," Zacher said. So he took leave and went to the University of Texas where he earned his Ph.D. in communication and educational administration with a minor in computer science. (Later, he also did post-doctorate work at UW-Madison in journalism.)

The University of Texas hired him to teach photojournalism for a year as he finished his doctorate. In 1970, he returned to Oshkosh, working again as a half-time instructor and a half-time administrator. He taught at UWO during the school year and for two years, at UW-Stout in the summers for their graduate program. When he wasn't teaching, he was rebuilding and renovating three and one built-from-scratch homes, or Corvettes.

"At that time, Gary (Coll) was teaching photo so I was teaching in other departments," Zacher recalled, noting he taught in the journalism, education, art and library science departments. He also served as director of photography for the university and coordinated all the graphics the university published.

"I had a diverse background and would go where needed; it certainly kept things interesting," Zacher said.

However, by the mid-1980s he was getting burned out as a teacher and UWO's coordinator of publications with three deadlines a day. So Zacher asked then-Chancellor Ed Penson to go back to teaching in journalism, and doctorate," Zacher said. So he took leave and went to the University of Texas where he earned his Ph.D. in communication and educational administration with a minor in computer science. (Later, he also did post-doctorate work at UW-Madison in journalism.)

The University of Texas hired him to teach photojournalism for a year as he finished his doctorate. In 1970, he returned to Oshkosh, working again as a half-time instructor and a half-time administrator. He taught at UWO during the school year and for two years, at UW-Stout in the summers for their graduate program. When he wasn't teaching, he was rebuilding and renovating three and one built-from-scratch homes, or Corvettes.

"At that time, Gary (Coll) was teaching photo so I was teaching in other departments," Zacher recalled, noting he taught in the journalism, education, art and library science departments. He also served as director of photography for the university and coordinated all the graphics the university published.

"I had a diverse background and would go where needed; it certainly kept things interesting," Zacher said.

However, by the mid-1980s he was getting burned out as a teacher and UWO's coordinator of publications with three deadlines a day. So Zacher asked then-Chancellor Ed Penson to go back to teaching in journalism, and he agreed.

Zacher said one of the highlights of his career was working as a staff photographer at the Green Bay Press Gazette where he published over 350 photos in one year. "It was an amazing time," he recalls. "They sent me everywhere and they didn't care how many hours it took me."

Another highlight was working for 6½ years with Gov. Tommy Thompson with Zacher producing 100% of his campaign photographs. He got the job, in part, because a legislator had purchased one of his photos of Thompson and gave it to the governor as a gift.

In fact, Thompson asked Zacher to do his official portrait, which can be seen on the 20 ^th floor of the Concourse in the Wisconsin State Capitol. "All the other (gubernatorial) portraits had them smiling at the camera. But I had him working at a desk because he was a working governor," Zacher said.

In 1987, Zacher came back to UWO as he had become tenured in 1968 when journalism became an official major and he was promoted to a full professor.

A year later, advertising/PR alumna Elsie Patterson asked Zacher to help her on a book, "A Portrait of Everyday Life in Wisconsin." The book was created because Wisconsin was left out of another book "A Day in the Life of America," which was published in 1986.

Zacher served  as chief photo editor for the book and assigned 75 photographers with 20 rolls of film to cover the 72 counties of Wisconsin.

Zacher said each summer between 1985-97 he, his wife and their dog MeToo would navigate from Lake Winnebago through the 17 Fox Locks to the Bay of Green Bay. "From the Bay you could boat anywhere in the world," he said. "We would return to Lake Winnebago in August."

He taught as a photography professor until his retirement in 1999. In 2000, the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association (NEWSPA) Board of Directors created a Friend of Scholastic Journalism Award in his honor as he had served as executive secretary of the organization since 1983.

But Zacher hasn't slowed down in retirement. He created a subdivision in the northeast side of the city of Oshkosh called Island View Estates that currently houses 48 homes and is in the process of adding another 35 homes with another developer. He still mows the lawn there and maintains the rest of the subdivision. He also started a warehousing business and helps to care for his wife of 55 years, Marlene who has health problems.

They own a cabin outside of Mellen on English Lake near the Chequamegon National Forest and live part of the year in Florida.

"Life has been pretty good," Zacher said. But his favorite memories are working with the students, many who keep in touch with him.

UWO alumnus Charles Plueddeman said he still recalls one of Zacher's sayings: "Just give me results, not excuses."

What good advice to live by.





Published in October 2024 for the Alumni Reunion of the Advance-Titan and the UW Oshkosh Department of Journalism or Advertising, Multimedia Journalism and Public Relations (AMP)