William J. Schmidt's Obituary
William J. Schmidt
On August 20, 2005, William John Schmidt heard the voice of his Lord announce ?Well done, my good and faithful servant.? A Rosary service will be held Monday evening at Rader Funeral Home at 6:30 pm with visitation to follow. Funeral mass will be held at St. Matthew?s Catholic Church in Longview, Texas, on Tuesday, August 23, at 12:00 pm, Msgr. Xavier Pappu officiating, with interment at Rosewood Cemetery following.
Bill was born to Andrew and Mildred Millet Schmidt on February 25, 1933, in Collinsville, Illinois. Here he spent his youth acquiring the values that he embraced: service to God, love and sacrifice for family, diligence in work, thrift, creativity and pouring humor into life. Active duty in the U.S. Army led to a tour of duty in Korea that ended with an honorable discharge in 1954. Bill then began a 45 year successful career in the metal can industry with Continental Can Company. His attention was captured by a lovely girl new to the area and Susan Clark became his bride and lifelong partner on April 8, 1961. Soon they began their family with Bill attending St. Louis University classes after work to further provide for his growing family. Completing his Bachelor of Arts degree and advancing with Continental meant relocation for the family to Texas with stops and new friends in Houston, Fort Worth and, ultimately, Longview. Being Dad to five children included stints as a Little League coach and CCD instructor and brought Bill immense pride as his encouragement, discipline and imparted work ethic culminated in degrees at Texas A&M University for all his children. Being Grandpa brought new joys including Bill?s efforts to expand the fireplace mantle to accommodate 14 Christmas stockings, preparing ready-to-nail birdhouse kits for scores of Cub Scouts and keeping the pool kid-ready for splash day.
Bill could not hide his love for Christ and directed his efforts to supporting the work of the Catholic church, most recently at St. Matthew?s Catholic Church. Bill could always be counted upon to keep a promise, to pitch-in when needed and to tell a good story. One never need question what his views were on a given topic or what he considered the correct course of action to be. His family is blessed to have known love in action, discipline when necessary and humor in the strangest of places. His friends became family.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother, Thomas, and sister and brother-in-law Doris and Chick Normansell. He is survived by his loving wife, Susan, and his sister, Eloise Weiss of Collinsville, Illinois. His legacy includes two sons-. Timothy and Terri Schmidt with children William, Daniel, Timothy and Anna of Crawford, Texas; and Peter and Deborah Schmidt with children Susan Elaine, Emily and Douglas of Allen, Texas; three daughters- Andrea and Thomas DeFrance with children Sarah, Mehgan, Melissa and Matthew of Red Oak, Texas; Catherine Schmidt and fiancé Will Hailey and son Andrew of Gilmer, Texas; and Lisa and Scott Melton and daughters Macy and Mallory of Flower Mound, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Matthew?s Catholic Church.
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