Elroy Schmidt, 88, formerly of Farmingdale Rd., in the Town of Corning, was called by our Lord for his eternal reward with Him on Wednesday, February 2, 2011, with his family by his side to start his heavenly journey.
Elroy and his grieving family were comforted tremendously by the great staff of Aspirus Palliative Care Unit during his brief illness.
Elroy was born November 8, 1922, in the Town of Corning at the farm run by his parents, the late Edwin Schmidt and Ida (Bauman) Schmidt. He graduated from Merrill High School in 1940. On October 13, 1945, he married his loving wife, Lavila Krause. Together they operated the family farm, while Elroy also worked at his true passion – logging and planting trees. Elroy planted an estimated 3 million trees throughout north and west Wisconsin for Trees for Tomorrow. He also briefly had a trucking business, hauling logs and gravel. He began his public service in 1969 as Town of Corning Chairman and served in that capacity for 26 years. He helped develop the Town of Corning Volunteer Fire Department and the construction of the new town hall. He also served on the Lincoln County Board as a Supervisor for 34 years and he especially loved being on the Highway Committee and Forest, Parks and Land Committee.
A lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Berlin, his wisdom was sought as a member of the Church Council and Board of Elders. He loved playing cards, especially sheep’s head, hunting, fishing, pontooning on Lake Mohawksin and hiking in the woods with his wife and also shared those passions with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed several trips to Colorado to elk hunt with his son. Elroy was a great outdoor enthusiast his entire life and enjoyed time with his hunting crew, including this last deer season. Elroy enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest. He will be remembered for his laughter and wit.
Elroy is survived by: his wife Lavila Schmidt; and four children, daughter Karen (Darrell) Krohn, and their children Kim (John) Rick and Chad (Elise) Krohn; son John Schmidt and Kris Olson and their children John (Diana) Schmidt and Andria Schmidt; daughter Cindy (Jerry) Pike and their daughter, Stacy (Shawn) Hagenbucher; and son Richard ‘Ric’ Schmidt. Elroy is further survived by his great grandchildren, Cassandra and Zachary Rick, Kylie and Kolton Krohn, Erin and Andrew Schmidt, Caiden Orosco, and Peyton Hagenbucher. He was like a “Dad” to many. He was preceded in death by his parents, and two sisters, Evelyn Arndt and Ramona Wiesneski Engel.
The funeral will be at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, February 8, 2011, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Town of Berlin. The Rev. Jeffrey Schmidt will officiate. Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery, Town of Berlin. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Monday at the Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill, and after 1:00 P.M. Tuesday at church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, Town of Berlin or Northland Lutheran High School.
Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com