Obit: Schmidt, Norman Herman (1939 - 2012)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Schmidt, Litka, Knoll, Stump, Newman, Seefeld, Stauss, Chambers, Zimmerman

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 6/6/2012

Schmidt, Norman Herman (5 June 1939 - 26 May 2012) With Flag

Norman H. Schmidt, 72, of Loyal passed away Saturday, May 26, 20112, under the care of his loving family and Ministry Home Hospice following a valiant fight against pancreatic cancer for the past year.

Norman Herman Schmidt was born June 5, 1939, in the township of Beaver, rural Loyal, the son of Ervin and Verna (Litka) Schmidt. He was raised on the family farm and received his education from Beaver Center School and graduated from Loyal High School in 1957.

He became an accomplished musician during his high school days, playing the piano, accordion and drums and formed his own polka band. He was a drummer with the Wayne Seefeld Band, the Danny Stauss Band, the Bill Chambers Orchestra, the Harmony Four Band and others through the years. He played his last drumming job with the Harmony Four Band at Owen April 24, 2012.

Norm married Jan (Janet Knoll) June 30, 1962, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Riplinger. He served in the U. S. Army from September 1962, until September 1964 when he received his honorable discharge after being stationed at Ft. Campbell, KY. He was employed by the Clark County Highway Department for 40 years with the last 12 years as the patrol superintendent, retiring in October of 1998. He was then employed by the Township of Beaver as a part-time grader operator until April of this year.

He was a dedicated firefighter and served on the Loyal Fire Department for 45 years, retiring in the fall of 2011. His children grew up realizing his passion for fire fighting and presented him with his very own 1957 Pumper Fire Truck the Father’s Day of 1999. It was his prized possession, and he spent many enjoyable hours with family and friends “playing fire truck” as Jan called it. Most recently he taught his youngest grandson Bo (14) to drive and operate it.

He was a charter member of the Loyal Ambulance Service and served as an EMT for the city of Loyal until 1983 when the family moved to their current county home on Rock Creek Road. Norm was a lifetime member of Trinity Lutheran Church and served on the church council in earlier years. He also served as an alderman on the Loyal City Council and was chairman of the Building Committee when the new Town of Beaver Hall was built. He was a member of the Loyal American Legion Post #175.

Norm was a loving family man, enjoying the simple things in life whether it be helping Jan with yard work and her flowers or lending a hand to family and friends for any project that was being done. He spent many hours listening to Old Time Music Sunday mornings on the radio and watching the polka shows on RFD TV. He loved playing cards with family and friends, and he and Jan spent several years in Port Aranas, TX, during the winter months.

He will be dearly missed by his wife Jan of almost 50 years (June 30, 2012) and his three wonderful children and their spouses, Scott (Julie) Schmidt, Neillsville, Lona (Jay) Stump, Willard, and Chad (Cheryl) Schmidt, Mosinee, along with six grandchildren that he was so very proud of, Luke Schmidt, St. Paul, MN, Austen (Stephanie) Stump, Greenwood, Chelsea Schmidt, Sioux Falls, SD, Leah (special friend, Justin) Stump, Altoona, Samantha and Bo Schmidt, Mosinee. Our lives have been truly blessed because we have had the best of the best as his wife, children and grandchildren. H e is also survived by one brother, Kenneth (Nancy) Schmidt of Loyal; sisters-in-law, Dorene Newman, Evelyn and Cheryl Knoll; brothers-in-law, Don Newman and LaVern and Gene Knoll.

WE would like to thank the Marshfield Clinic Oncology and the Ministry Home Hospice staff for their compassionate care over the past several months. A special thank you, to Pastor Dan Zimmerman, family and friends for prayers and concern during the difficult time.

A celebration of his life was held Wednesday, May 30, at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Loyal, with Rev. Can Zimmerman officiating. Visitation was from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. in the church fellowship hall. A private interment with his immediate family followed at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, rural Riplinger.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in his name to the family to be designated at a later time.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cremationsocietyofWisconsin.com.

The Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Altoona, has assisted the family with arrangements.