Obit: Schmidt, Eleanor Josephine (1913 - 2011)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Schmidt, Verkuilen, Lukowski, Wickershiem, Heiman, Lisiecki, Mennen, Smith, Apfelbeck

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.) June 1, 2011

Schmidt, Eleanor J. (19 February 1913 - 30 May 2011)

Eleanor J. Schmidt, age 98, of Thorp, passed away on Monday, May 30, 2011, at the Clark County Health Care Center in Owen. Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 2, from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the Thorp Funeral Home with a 7:00 p.m. rosary service.  Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 3, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Thorp.  Burial will follow in St. Bernard’s Catholic Cemetery.

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.) June 8, 2011

Eleanor Josephine Schmidt, age 98, of Thorp, WI passed away on Monday, May 30, 2011, at the Clark County Health Care Center in Owen, WI following a short illness.

She was born in the Town of Worden, rural Thorp, on February 19, 1913, to Fred and Frances (Verkuilen) Schmidt and was one of ten children. Eleanor lived in Thorp her whole life except for a few years in the 1930’s when she resided in Chicago where she earned $6.00 a week as a nurse maid.

She married George Schmidt on June 1, 1937.  He was her husband and best friend for 62 years before he passed away on January 11, 1999. George and Eleanor farmed for 30 years in the Town of Reseburg and then moved to Thorp where Eleanor held various jobs, including the Dairy Bar, the Dime Store, and Thorp IGA.

Eleanor loved to travel and camped her way across America. She and George were members of the Swinging 8’s Square Dance Club for many years.  Eleanor was also a member of St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church and its Parish Council of Catholic Women, and the Thorp American Legion Auxiliary.  She always loved a good party and was always game for adventure.  She joined a group at Morgan Plaza when she moved there in 2002 and headed out in a snow storm to make "angels in the snow."

She set many records in her 90’s, such as bowling until she was 95 years old, going down water slides, jet skiing, tubing, and 4-wheeling only two weeks before she died.

Eleanor is survived by her four children: Luanne (Tom) Lukowski, Gordon (Cindy) Schmidt, Harold (Diane) Schmidt, and Luellyn (Rich) Wickershiem; 11 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by one brother, Reubin (Margaret) Schmidt; one sister-in-law, Gladys Heiman; many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband George; eight brothers and sisters: Edwin Schmidt, Arthur Schmidt, Melvin Schmidt, Rose Lisiecki, Sr. Cecelia Schmidt, Hermiss Schmidt; two infant sisters; and two brothers-in-law: Charles Schmidt and Raymond Heiman.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 3, 2011, at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Thorp with Rev. Keith Apfelbeck officiating.  Burial followed in St. Bernard’s Catholic Cemetery. 

Pallbearers were: Chad Schmidt, Trevor Schmidt, Shawn Schmidt, Jamie Wickershiem, Jim Mennen, and Tom Smith.

Visitation was held at the Thorp Funeral Home, in Thorp, on Thursday, June 2, 2011, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. rosary.  Visitation was also held at the church on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until time of service.

Online condolences may be directed to: www.cuddiefh.com.

Thorp Funeral Home assisted the family with the arrangements.