Obit: Schmidtke, Otto #2 (1940 - 2011)

Contact: Audrey Roedl

Email: audero@charter.net

Surnames: Schmidtke, Davis, Kammerer, Helms. Meitzel

----Source: The Loyal TRG (Loyal, Clark County, WI 31 Aug, 2011)

Schmidtke, Otto (22 SEPT 1940-25 AUG 2011)

Otto A Schmidtke, 70, Stratford, passed away on the morning of Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, at the Home of the Dove, Marshfield, with his wife, Linda, at his side and under the care of Ministry Home Care Hospice. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., on Friday, Sept. 2, at Zion United Methodist Church, Marshfield. Rev. Mike Carlson will officiate. Friends may call on Thursday, Sept. 1, from 4-8 p.m., at Zion Methodist Church, Marshfield, and again on Friday, Sept. 2, at the church, from 10 a.m. until time of service. Following the funeral service, military rites be conducted by the American Legion Post #54 of Marshfield. A private committal service will be held at Brooklawn Memorial Gardens at a later date.

Otto Algene Schmidtke was born on Sept. 22, 1946, in the town of York, Clark County, the son of Otto and Florence (nee Davis) Schmidtke. Following his graduation from Loyal High School, he entered the United States Army, and proudly served his country from 1960-63, with two of those years served in Germany. On July 2, 1966, he married Linda Kammerer at United Methodist Church, Chili. They owned and operated Schmidtke’s Furnace Duct Cleaning. He was a longtime member of Zion United Methodist Church. He was also a member of Whitetails Unlimited, AWCC, the National Rifle Association, Marshfield American Legion Post 54, the American Hunting Club, Bakerville Snow Rovers, the Marshfield Eagles Club Aerie #624, MACCI, Stratford Chamber of Commerce, and the American Motorcycle Association. His hobbies included hunting, motorcycling, snowmobiling, camping, and golf. He loved following NASCAR and attended countless races at several race tracks.. Since 1990, he was instrumental at collecting money to support the Special  Olympics thru the Bakerville Snowmobile Club’s annual ride. This group of kids was special to Otto.

Survivors include his loving wife, Linda, Stratford; two daughters, Vickie (John) Helms, Cody, Wyo., Keri (Lennie) Meitzel, Billings, Mont., One son, Kevin (Kendra) Schmidtke, Stratford; seven grandchildren, Sean, Shane, Luke, Troy, Paul, Karrissa and Kody; two step-grandchildren, Kelsey and Tanner; three sisters, Lola Brown, LuAnn Baker And Bonnie (Harvey) Degenhardt; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Norita Adler.

The family would like to thank Pastor Mike and Anola Becker for their care and support, their church family, friends of the benefil and House of the Dove—"what a caring and lovely group of caregivers.

In Lieu of flowers, donations are being accepted in Otto’s memory to the Marshfield Special Olympics.

Online condolences may be offered at lifetributesfuneralhome.com.

Life Tributes Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Spencer, is assisting the family with arrangements.