Obit: Schmidt, Verland A. (1934 - 2007)

Contact:  Shari Hahn
Email: steppinwest@elknet.net

Surnames: SCHMIDT HAUSER STATZ HART MICHELS SPINDLER WORTMAN CICHANTEK BECKER RUETH KRAEMER PACE

----Sources: MARSHFIELD NEWS-HERALD (Marshfield Wood County, Wis.) 06/05/2007

Schmidt, Verland "Vernie" A. (5 Oct 5 1934 - 2 June 2007)

NEILLSVILLE -- Verland Schmidt, age 72, of Neillsville, died Saturday, June 2, 2007, in the Palliative Care Unit of Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, June 7, 2007 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Neillsville, Wis. The celebrant will be the Very Reverend Woodrow H. Pace. Interment will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery with military rites accorded by the Neillsville Veterans Council.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m., Wednesday at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville, Wis. A Prayer Service and Rosary Service will be held at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home

Casket Bearers will be Verland's sons and sons-in-law, Pat, Tim, Dennis, Phil and Milt Schmidt, Joe Hart, Carl Michels and Tom Spindler.

Verland Andrew Schmidt was born on Oct. 5, 1934, in Loyal, the son of John and Christine (Hauser) Schmidt. He attended the Pleasantview School in Loyal and then served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict from 1954 to 1956. Verland was united in marriage to Dolores Statz on Oct. 5, 1957, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Neillsville, Wis. He was employed on the family farm until he entered the army and when he returned he worked in construction. Then they farmed in the town of Weston for many years. After retiring, they moved to Oak Street in Neillsville, Wis.

Verland was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Neillsville and served many years as an usher. He was also a member of the Haugen-Richmond American Legion Post 73 in Neillsville, serving as the past commander and a member of the color guard. He was a member of the 40 & 8, a past governor of the Loyal Order of the Moose and a past member of various farm organizations.

His hobbies include working at fish fries at the American Legion, farming, playing cards especially sheepshead and dirty clubs, dancing, fishing, hunting, going to the casino, driving his bulldozer but most of all enjoying his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Dolores; eight children, Mary (Joe) Hart of Neillsville, Peggy (Carl) Michels of Montgomery, Minn., Pat (Lori) Schmidt of Waupaca, Tim (Cindy) Schmidt of Fall Creek, Dennis (Margie) Schmidt of Marshfield, Phil (Lora) Schmidt of Neillsville, Sharon (Tom) Spindler of Marshfield and Milt (Melissa) Schmidt of Fall Creek; grandchildren, Melissa, Elizabeth and Michael Hart, Rebecca Wortman, Mandie and Jen Michels, Nicholas and Cody Schmidt, Katie, Ryan and Cole Schmidt, Jodi, Eric and Kyle Schmidt, Faith and Adam Schmidt, Melissa and Mckayla Cichantek, Gracie Spindler, Isabella, Isaiah and Gabe Schmidt; great-grandchildren, Jayden and Eryn. He is also survived by a sister, Sally (Clarence "Curly") Becker of Neillsville; and brothers, Bob (Winnie) Schmidt of Milton and George (Jane) Schmidt of Janesville.

Verland was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Dean Schmidt; a sister, Florence Rueth; brothers, Joseph, Paul, Henry, Bernard and Tony; brother-in-law, Wayne Kraemer; sisters-in-law, Jackie Schmidt, Dodie Schmidt, Margie Schmidt, Dorothy Schmidt and Helen Statz.

Don't think of him as gone away ~

his journey's just begun,

life holds so many facets ~

this earth is only one.

Just think of him as resting

from the sorrows and the tears

in a place of warmth and comfort

where there are no days and years

Think how he must be wishing

that we could know today

how nothing but our sadness

can really pass away.

And think of him as living

in the hearts of those he touched...

for nothing loved is ever lost ~

and he was loved so much