Surnames: Schmidt, Koch, Kloth, Empey, Crimmons, Kronmanaker, Moen

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood County, Wis.) Tue, Jun 29, 2004

Schmidt, Richard 'Dick' Elmer (7 Oct. 1916 - 26 June 2004)

DORCHESTER - Richard E. "Dick" Schmidt, 87, Dorchester, died peacefully Saturday, June 26, 2004, in the Palliative Care Unit of Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield.

A private graveside service for Dick will be Thursday in Dorchester Memorial Cemetery with the Rev. Daryn Bahn, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Marshfield, officiating. Grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.

A time for remembrance for friends and family will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at Jerkwater Bar and Restaurant, County Road A East, in Dorchester.

Maurina Funeral Home assisted the family with the arrangements.

Richard Elmer Schmidt was born Oct. 7, 1916, the son of Richard W. and Elfried (Koch) Schmidt, in Spencer. The family moved to Marshfield and later settled in the Dorchester area, where Dick attended public school. At the age of 18, Dick served with the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Richard married Verna Kloth on May 25, 1939, in Dorchester. They celebrated 63 years of marriage in 2002. As a young man, he worked in Spencer at a service station, moving to Red Wing, Minn., after their marriage. He was a truck driver until returning to reside in Dorchester in 1946 to farm. Richard became a mechanic and car body repairman, working for Handle Motor Co. in Medford from 1952 to 1973. He then owned and operated Dick's Body Shop in Dorchester from 1973 to 1986.

Dick enjoyed fixing lawnmowers, his "puddle jumper," plowing snow, fishing, puttering in his garage, playing pool, playing cards, dancing and spending time with family and friends. He had a special talent to fix and create anything mechanical.

Dick will be dearly missed by his daughter, Donna (Allen) Empey of Marshfield; son, Terry (Kathy) Schmidt of Santa Cruz, Calif.; six grandchildren, Terralyn Schmidt and Adam Schmidt of Santa Cruz, Cindy (Mark) Crimmons of Hudson, Todd (Nicole) Schmidt of New Richmond, Jayne (Tony) Kronmanaker of Appleton and Jon (Peggy) Empey of Auburndale; eight great-grandchildren; one sister, Eleanora Moen of Marshfield; and two brothers, Alvin (Doris) Schmidt of Wisconsin Rapids and Harold Schmidt of Minneapolis.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Verna, on Nov. 22, 2002; a son, Verlyn Schmidt; two sisters, Evalina and Ruth; three brothers, Walter, Theodore and Melvin; and a great-grandson, Nathaniel.