Gordon Charles Schmidt
Gordon
Gordy
Dad
Daddy
Grandpa Gordy
May 18, 1946 - June 6, 2015
May 18, 1946 - June 6, 2015
Gordon Charles Schmidt, 69,
of Hastings, MN passed away unexpectedly Saturday while gardening at the
Minnesota Veterans Home of Hastings.
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Born May 18th, 1946, in Tracy
MN, he was a son of Annabelle (Pape/Schmidt) Turbes (d. 2009) and Kenneth
Schmidt (d. 1962).
Gordon grew up in Milroy, MN and graduated from Milroy High
School in 1965.
Upon graduation, he was drafted by the US Army and served in
Vietnam for 3 years.
He married his high school sweetheart, LeeAnn Marie
Dudgeon on May 4, 1968, but later divorced after 12 years of marriage.
They had three children: Denise, Janell, and Kenny.
He remarried,
Guilda Mae Allen, March 24, 1984, that also resulted in a divorce in 1988.
Gordon
had worked as a farmer for 20 years on the family’s second generation farm
south of Milroy along with his brother, Allen Schmidt.
He spent the winters
building custom cabinetry and other woodworking projects; worked for the
Redwood Country Highway department; and was a volunteer for the Milroy Fire
Department. In 1987, the family moved to Minneapolis where he worked in factory
manufacturing around the Twin Cities before joining the Minnesota Veterans Home
in Hastings in 2003. It was there where he resumed his passion for
woodworking and other creative inspirations.
He was involved in building furniture for the department of
veteran affairs, commissioner’s office, and veteran’s organization throughout
the state.
His master craftsmanship has also won him
national recognition in the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival three times for his custom designed clocks. Earlier this
year, he had submitted another piece of artwork, a grande two and half foot Dutch
wooden clock, for the 2015 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival being held
in Durham, North Carolina in October.
He enjoyed traveling, fishing, camping, gardening,
crafting, the many activities held at the veterans home, and spending time with
family. He was a member of the St. Michael Roman Catholic Church while living
in Milroy. He regularly donated his time in maintaining the St. Michael Cemetery
while farming in Milroy.
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He is a veteran of the Vietnam War serving as a private for communications in the
U.S. Army.
He was an active member
of the Minnesota Veterans Home in Hastings such as working in their woodshop
making flag cases; creating art projects such as stain glass and quilting; gardening;
and providing fresh vegetables to the home.
He is survived by his children: Denise Marie Olson
and Keith of Corning, New York; Janell Marie Schmidt of Redwood Falls; and Ken
Ray Schmidt of Alexandria.
His
Grandchildren: Derrick Michael Rovira of
Anaheim, CA; Kaitlyn Rose Ochs of Redwood Falls, Madison Anne Olson and Jackson
Peter Olson of Corning, NY.
His
siblings: Genevieve Gjerde and Kenneth, Sr. of Minneapolis, MN; Janice Donavan
and Peter of Palos Heights, IL; Marlene
and Thomas Glomski of Surprise, AZ; Allen (“Butch”) Schmidt and Carol of
Marshall, MN; JoAnne Stattleman of Pine River, MN and Rosemary Brau and LeRoy of
Redwood Falls, MN. In addition to his father and mother, he is preceded in
death by his former wife, LeeAnn, and his grandson, Darrin Michael Rovira.
Funeral Services for Gordon Charles Schmidt
Thursday, June 11th, 1:00PM
The life celebration will be held at the Minnesota Veterans Home
in Hastings. The location of the celebration will be outside of building 25 by
the gardens; the gardens that were groomed and maintained by dad. After the
celebration, there will be snacks and drinks in the home's front lobby located
just across the street from the gardens. If weather does not cooperate, the
celebration will be moved to the gymnasium.
Friday, June 12th, 1:00PM
Final resting place will be at the St.
Michael's Catholic Cemetery in Milroy, MN. The ceremony will be located at the
cemetery with cake, coffee and drinks afterward in the St. Michael's basement.
ADDRESS:
The St. Michael’s Cemetery is located one mile south of Milroy on County Route
8.
Flowers can be sent to either address; however
we ask that in lieu of flowers, that plants (vegetables and fruit) and planting
flowers be sent to the Minnesota Veterans Home in Hastings, or donations can be
made to the home in Gordon's honor. For questions or information on donating,
please contact Ellen Nelson at (651) 539-2444 and
visit the Hastings Giving Guide for ideas on how to give: http://mn.gov/mdva/homes/
When life gave him lemons,
he made lemonade.
That was my dad.
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