Obit: Schmidt, Gary J. (1950 – 1972)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Schmidt, Rasch, Zank, Klimeck, Stephens, Arndt, Neuenfeldt, Jochinsen, Balciar, Staggs, Hoover, Zenner

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 11 Jan 1973
Schmidt, Gary J. (16 Jun 1950 – 30 Dec 1972)

Gary J. Schmidt, 22, formerly of Stetsonville, died at 8 a.m. Saturday, December 30 at St. Joseph’s Hospital Marshfield where he had been a patient since being injured in a gravel pit accident on November 15, 1972.

Funeral services were held Tuesday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at Green Grove with Rev. Arthur Rasch officiating. Burial was in Dorchester Memorial Cemetery. The Rev. A.W. Zank was soloist.

Pallbearers were: John Klimeck, Jerry Stephens, Ardo Arndt, Robin Neuenfeldt, Tom Jochinsen and Robert Balciar. Maurina Funeral Home was in charge.

Gary Schmidt was born June 16, 1950 in the town of Little Black, Taylor County. He attended the Lawndale and Holway grad schools and was a 1968 graduate of Medford High School. He entered the U.S. Navy in July 1968 and served as Petty Officer 3rd Class, touring the western Pacific on a ship engaged in supply missions in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. He was discharged July 28, 1972. He was a member of the V.F.W. Post 5729 of Medford, and the Boxrucker-Berry American Legion Post 519 of Stetsonville. Color guards at the funeral were from the V.F.W. Post, and the Legion Post conducted graveside military rites.
Schmidt was married February 2, 1970 at Napa, California to Debra Staggs. She survives, and he is also survived by one son, Eric; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Schmidt and two sisters, Mrs. Wayne (Shirley) Hoover and Miss Beverly Schmidt at Stetsonville; one sister, Mrs. Donald (Audrey) Zenner, and his paternal grandfather, William Schmidt, Medford; and his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Frieda Neuenfeldt, Dorchester.