Frederick Schmitt

Frederick Schmitt CRYSTAL FALLS - Frederick H. Schmitt, 89, of 1517 Camp 5 Road, Crystal Falls, formerly of Racine, Wis., woke to eternal life on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004. He was born on June 24, 1914, in Menominee, the son of the late Christian and Minnie (Barthels) Schmitt. Fred was a 1935 graduate of Iron Mountain High School. Fred married Randi Hansen on March 25, 1937, in Iron Mountain. She preceded him in death on Jan. 13, 2003. Upon graduating, Fred worked at Ford Motor Co. in Kingsford until 1949. He then moved to Racine, Wis., where he had lived until one year ago. He had worked for the Motor Transport Co. of Racine as a truck driver. Fred drove truck No. 300 for 24 years until retiring in 1974. He was a member of Calvary Memorial Church in Racine. Fred was an avid sportsman, fisherman and a professional "putterer." He enjoyed listening to hymns and reading his Bible. He also loved gardening, chocolate, and most of all, his family. Fred is survived by four children, Yvonne (Ed) Willis of Racine, Fred (Karen) Schmitt of Racine, Larry (Virginia) Schmitt of Miami, Fla. and Darlene (Bob) Taylor of Crystal Falls; seven grandchildren, Jeanne Willis of Racine, Larry (Sherri) Schmitt of Boynton Beach, Fla., Dan (Karen) Schmitt of Fayetteville, Ga., Mike (Julie) Willis of Racine, Steve (Karen) Schmitt of Racine, Chris Willis of Racine and Liz (Jerry) McCann of Kenya, Africa; 11 great-grandchildren, Kevin, Amber, Josh, Brieanna, and Nathan Willis and Rebecca, Katie, Laura, Stephanie, Brittany, and Shelby Schmitt; one great-great grandchild, Aiden; three nephews, Clyde Coombs Jr. of Longview, Texas, Dick Schmitt of Osceola, Wis., and Bill Schmitt and two nieces, Carol (Mike) Buege and Helen Joy Johnson, both of Green Bay, Wis. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Betty Coombs of Iron Mountain, Edna Schmitt of Kingsford, and Helen Shefsky of Marinette, Wis.; two brothers, Walter Schmitt of Kingsford and John Schmitt of Iron Mountain; and one niece, Joyce Hoaglund of Kingsford. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. at the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain. Funeral services will follow at 3 p.m. at the funeral home. Dick Kreider will officiate. Burial will be in the Westlawn Cemetery in Racine. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to WVCY Radio at VCY America, 3434 West Kilbourn Ave., Milwaukee, Wis., 53208. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Fred Schmitt online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.