Obit: Schmidt, LaVerne L. (1922 - 1945)

Contact: Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: SCHMIDT SEVERSON

----Sources: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wis.) 09/01/1945

Schmidt, LaVerne L. (9 OCT 1922 - 30 AUG 1945)

Greenwood (Clark Co., Wis.) - Funeral service for LaVerne L. Schmidt, 22, son of Mrs. Lillian Severson Schmidt, formerly of Willard and now of Milwaukee, were held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Capt. Leslie V. Barnes, chaplain of the U.S. Army, who returned from Italy last week delivered the sermon and the children’s choir of St. Mary’s Church sang. Burial was made in Greenwood Cemetery.

Mr. Schmidt, who joined the Catholic Church and was baptized April 8, 1944, was injured in an automobile accident in Milwaukee Wednesday evening, Aug. 29, and died the following day.

The accident car, which crashed head on into a street car, was driven by Pfc. William Parker, Truax Field, Madison. The other passenger, Sgt. Alfred Chartier, also of Truax Field, was killed.

Pallbearers for the ex-Marine were former servicemen and members of the American Legion, William Dallman, Frank Smaldone, Roy Krokson, Julius and Malro Minsaas, and a friend from Willard.

LaVerne Lester Joseph Schmidt was born in Greenwood Oct. 9, 1922 and spent most of his life in the vicinity of Willard. He attended Greenwood High School for two years, and then, at the age of 19, went to Chicago to be employed for a short time. He returned to Willard and in the summer of 1943, he and his mother and sister, Shirley, went to Milwaukee.

In July 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Marines and was stationed in California for a short time when he received an honorable medical discharge. Since then he was employed for the Arco Motor Carrier, his last trip for the company being to Toledo, Ohio. He had just returned and had stopped over in Milwaukee when the accident occurred.