John J. (Jack) Schmidt, 78, of Thornton, passed away Tuesday evening, Dece. 9, 2014, at Shawano Medical Center following a courageous two year battle with pancreatic cancer.
Jack was born October 17, 1936 in the town of Herman, Shawano County, a son of the late Raymond and Laura (Ready) Schmidt. He attended the Leopolis Grade School and graduated from Marion High School in 1955. Following graduation, Jack delivered milk until he entered the U.S. Army. He served his country from January 1957 until December 1958, serving 18 months in Germany.
Upon returning from service, Jack married the former Ruby Schultz on Feb. 7, 1959, at St. Mary’s Church in Leopolis. Jack worked road construction in Milwaukee and Madison and several locations throughout the state. He owned a milk route from 1962 to 1972, and also owned and operated Schmidt CB Sales and Service in the 1970s. He was a semi-truck driver for Schneider and Carolina Freight, and delivered fire trucks for American La France, Seagrave, and Marion Body Works until August 2014.
Jack was a good Catholic man who served on the Shawano County Board, Shawano County Agricultural Society Board, Maple Lane Board and Solid Waste Committee until resigning in May 2014 for health reasons. He enjoyed spending time in the woods with his family, making maple syrup, and cutting wood.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who will be deeply missed. Jack is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Ruby; his children, Amy (James) Bohr, Patricia (Andrew) Czarnecki, Michael (Terri) Schmidt, David Schmidt, and J.J. (Rhonda) Schmidt, all of Shawano; grandchildren Nicole (Jeff Korth) Raddant, Ashley (Josh) Wheeler, Jordan Raddant, Jonathon Bohr, Katelyn Bohr, Jerod (Courtney Zook) Schmidt, Jacob (Jordan) Coe, Noah Schmidt and Mariah Schmidt; and step-grandchildren Josh Moesch, Amy Drohen and Tyler (McKenzie) Moesch. He is further survived by his great-grandchildren, Ella and Samuel, and two expected babies in March; his sisters, Mary Steinke and Donna Jaeger; and brothers Warren “Corny” Schmidt, James Schmidt, and Robert Schmidt.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Laura Schmidt; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Richard and Verona Schultz; one brother in infancy; brothers-in-law Allen Steinke and James Jaeger; and brother and sisters-in-law Victor and Adline Schultz, Myron and Lila Radtke, Edward and Edgar Schultz, and Oscar and Opal Schultz.
A funeral Mass for Jack Schmidt will be celebrated on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shawano with Fr. Luke Ferris, celebrant. Entombment will be at the Sacred Heart Mausoleum with full military honors. Relatives and friends may call at Mickelson Funeral Service of Shawano on Thursday, December 11, 2014 from 4-8 p.m. A Parish Wake Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue at Sacred Heart Church on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass.
Mickelson Funeral and Cremation Service is assisting the family with arrangements. On-line condolences at www.mickelsonfs.com.