Wesley Donald Schuck

Mankato Mortuary 1001 North Riverfront Drive Mankato, MN 56001 507-388-2202 A memorial service for Wesley D. Schuck, 40, of Mankato will be held at 4:00 p.m. Monday, May 11, 2015 at the Kato Ballroom, 200 Chestnut Street, Mankato. A gathering of friends and family will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Kato Ballroom prior to the service. After the memorial service a musical celebration of Wes's life will be held. Wes grew up on 90 acres of woods, in Paynesville, MN. He was instantly comfortable with the creative expanse that existed for him and he blossomed as a natural explorer. Creativity was pushed through all ages and stages of his life, with the idea that limits were something to elude in the 40 short years he was here. Everything he did, he committed to without hesitation. He engaged in Boy Scouts and committed to the Eagle Scout honor. At a young age, he lettered in athletic endeavors in High School such as track and cross country although running was always something he looked peculiar doing for the stride that carried him across the finish line defied convention. Academically, he completed the work at hand with high marks, and little effort, and was known on campus to create many independent studies to accomplish his own out-of-the-box education. And so it began with Wes; crafting the perfect blend of commitment, creativity and comfort he stepped through life and claimed what to many, seemed out of reach From the day Wes met her, he has said that Kristi Berg saved his life, she was the spark to what would affectionately be understood as the "Wes Factor". In 1994, they shared a moment while simultaneously laying eyes on one another and crafting the course of their next 21 years. They met while students at Gustavus Adolphus College, married upon graduation, and dove head first into the unfolding of their love story. Living in Mankato, they created a home, and have been raising 3 beautiful, compassionate and intelligent daughters. Becoming a dad was a great side effect to Wes' greatest adventure of loving Kristi, and he did so with a completely open heart, open mind and an increased infatuation to life and discovery - now through the eyes of his daughters. His creativity pushed the boundaries and made it impossible to answer "what do you do?". He produced, directed, wrote, recorded, edited, filmed, composed, envisioned, inspired, and believed that anything was possible. He believed in everything that he did and everyone that he chose to conspire with. And he was always conspiring. Whether hysterical and harmless antics of High School youth, or the passionate, engaging, life-changing ideas of a young entrepreneur, he not only set out to accomplish something that most likely hadn't exactly been considered before, he spun a web that would catch others frantically following along. The "Wes Factor" was a combination of the comfort that Wes had in his ability, and defined the commitment to his creativity. Two Fish Studios, Aquarium Records, No Alternative Media Group, Moving Records, and STATIC Magazine were all created in the energy of purpose and passion. Within the scope of these businesses, over 400 bands in all degrees of independence came through the doors of a historic church transformed into professional recording studio, multiple films were taken from concept to release and distributed all around the globe, countless miles were navigated to performances to be recorded and more, many more concepts were yet to be hatched. A stage IV cancer diagnosis at age 36 threatened not only his life, but the viability of his family. Wes perservered and added "survive" to the "What do you do?" question. Every day he was focused on the present moment of the life and love, committed to living to the fullest extent of what he could offer this world through his life and his work. He believed it is our responsibility to use our creative powers to do great things. He was an Ambassador of Humanity and he lived this mission out every day It now lays with us to step up and carry it on Sweet souls left to cherish the crazy that was Wes, include the love of his life, Kristi; amazing daughters, Keely, Kobi and Kiya; proud parents, Donald and Mary Jane of Willmar; brother, Eric (Amanda) Schuck of Longmont, CO. Treasured in-laws, many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews; countless Cool Cats (one that may have been recently shaved) and a dog that barks at the legions of loving visitors that stopped by to share the love that this man brought to all.