Lance E. Quale

MADISON - Lance E. Quale, age 75, of Madison, passed away unexpectedly November 3, 2022, at Jefferson Memory Care, in Jefferson, Wis. Lance was born in Chicago, Ill., to Irving and Rita Quale, who both predeceased him.

He was a true renaissance man: a gifted musician writing music for guitar and piano, and able to pick up any instrument and play it; a stained-glass artist designing spectacular masterpieces including lampshades, large window pieces, and delicate tableware; a woodworker, and avid gardener, designing and tending his Zen, water, flower, and vegetable gardens; a naturalist, camper, hiker and enthusiastic traveler.

He lived in the wilds of Alaska in his young adulthood and enjoyed snorkeling in the shores of Mexico in later years. He had a fondness for mountains, and he hiked them with ease. He was a devoted tennis player and long-distance runner. He not only “lettered” in chess in high school, but collected chess sets through-out his life, and built a “life-size” set for a garden at home. He was a proud graduate of the UW-Madison, earning an undergraduate degree in computer science when programming was done with punch cards, and later a master’s in Journalism. He developed and then managed the Pleasant Springs Sanitary District. A tragic fall from a bluff in 2011 left him with catastrophic injuries, requiring him learning to sit and stand again. When that slowed him down in his later years, instead of running, he rode his bike! He relished his time volunteering at the eastside ReStore. Lance enjoyed doing projects and playing his music. He was also a voracious reader his entire life.

He is survived by the love of his life, Katherine Kocs, of McFarland, to whom he was married nearly 23 years; and his three sons, Jacob Munz (Beth), Casey Munz, and Lucas Munz (Jennifer), whom he adopted as adults. He is further survived by his four grandsons, Alden, Elliott, Harvey and Calvin; his sister, Susan Quale; brother, Gareth Quale (Kathy); nineteen in-laws; nine nieces; and eighteen nephews; three great-nieces; one great-nephew; and many other relatives and friends, all of whom loved him dearly and enjoyed sharing his passions in life.

A small informal family dinner was already held in his honor, but the formal Celebration of Lance’s Life will take place later this summer, at a date and place to be announced, at which time we hope as many people as can, will join us as we celebrate his life. It is there we hope to have some of Lance’s music available in booklet form – a gift from him to you. That his music will be shared is a lasting tribute to him. Sharing his life’s passions brought him great joy – to carry that forward is to honor him. Lance will be interred at that later time at the Natural Path Sanctuary, 2299 Spring Rose Rd, Verona, WI 53593. He was thrilled to think he would become a part of nature, which he so loved.

A special thank you to St. Croix Hospice for the excellent care they provided Lance - he especially enjoyed the music therapy, and to Jefferson Memory Care for providing a home away from home, where he could play the piano and relax on the patio. And thanks to friends and family who wrote to Lance or sent cards and photos - he kept every one, and for your visits - he treasured every one.

All Faiths Funeral & Cremation Service of Madison is assisting the family. Online condolences can be made at www.866allfaiths.com.