Eugene J. "Smiley" Schmidt, 68, of Beaver Dam, died on Monday, Aug. 4, 2008, at his home surrounded by his family.
The visitation will be on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam from 4 until 7 p.m. with a vigil service at 7 p.m. There will also be a visitation on Thursday, Aug. 7, at St. Katharine Drexel Spring Street Church from 10 until 11 a.m. A Mass of Christian burial will follow on Thursday at the church at 11 a.m. Burial will be in St. Michael's Cemetery, town of Beaver Dam, Dodge County.
Eugene John Schmidt was born on Aug. 12, 1939, in Burnett, Wis., to Stanley and Ruth (Hammer) Schmidt. On Oct. 12, 1963, he was united in marriage with Ruth Kreuziger at St. John's Catholic Church in Clyman, Wis. Eugene proudly served in the National Guard, stationed in Fort Lewis, Wash., before his honorable discharge in 1962. He worked at Luken Lumber and Monarch Range, then worked for John Deere as a tool and die maker, retiring in 1996 after 32 years of employment. Eugene enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and traveling, especially to Alaska. Eugene was a craftsman and was very proud of the home that he built and the wood projects that he made for his children and grandchildren. Eugene looked forward to "Monday Funday's" with Andrew and Elliot and any time spent with his family and friends. He was so grateful for his friends that he made by the cabin at City Point. Eugene was a very giving man and would help out when disasters would strike, giving as much as he could to the Salvation Army and other relief organizations. He was a lifelong member of St. Michael's Catholic Church, now known as St. Katharine Drexel Parish.
Eugene is survived by his wife, Ruth, Beaver Dam; his children, Daniel (Michelle), Waterford, Michael (special friend Kelly), Beaver Dam, Dennis (Dawn), Beaver Dam, and Colette Schmidt, Colorado; his grandchildren, Andrew and Elliot Schmidt, Brittany and Joey Sproule, Mike (Alyssa) and Matt (fiance Michelle) Stephens, and James Luck, all of Beaver Dam; one great-grandson, William Stephens, Beaver Dam; a brother, Robert (Gerry), New York, and a sister, Pat (Carl) Keel, Princeton; his sisters-in-law, June Schmidt, Horicon, and Willodene Schmidt, California; a brother-in-law, David (Del) Kreuziger, Arizona; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Eugene was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Lester and Bernard, and his parents-in-law, Edwin and Evelyn Kreuziger.
The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, that memorials be made in Eugene's name to the Hillside Hospice Building Fund.
Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam is caring for the family. Online condolences may be made at www.MurrayFH.com.