William Albert Schmidt Jr.

William Albert Schmidt, Jr., age 86, of Germfask, Michigan, and more recently Grand Prairie, Texas, died on January 13, 2014. He was born in Dayton, Ohio on June 16, 1927, to William A. and Mildred M. Schmidt. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy serving in WW II in the Philippine Islands. He later retired from the United States Naval Reserve, rising to the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer. He was recognized by the United States Navy for his Distinguished Service in building the USS Buttercup, one of the few sinkable training devices in the United States located at a Naval Reserve Center.

During WW II, he began his 40-year career with the United States Postal Service delivering mail after high school. After a brief adventure out west, he would later make the postal service his career, retiring in 1982 as the Director of Training and Development for the Dayton Post Office. He also served as the President of the Dayton Employees Postal Credit Union.

Bill served in many leadership positions throughout his lifetime. He was the President of the Vandalia, Ohio, Jaycees. He was extremely proud of his suicide prevention work with area schools in Dayton. He was a life-long member of the Lions, serving as President of the Curtis, Michigan Lions Club. He was honored for his contributions to the Curtis community as the Honorary Chairman of the Curtis, Michigan 4th of July Parade, an event that draws more than 30,000 spectators annually.

His love of the outdoors was nurtured in his experience as a Boy Scout and serving as a Scout Leader while still in high school. He loved fishing, camping, hiking, boating, reading, telling stories, singing ditties and teasing his grandkids. After retirement, he and his wife fulfilled their lifelong dream of building a home on the Big Manistique Lake on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where they lived for nearly 30 years.

He also enjoyed music, a love that he passed on to his children and grandchildren. He was very proud of his participation in the Theodore Roosevelt High School Marching Band and his participation in a barbershop quartet. He learned to play the piano at a young age, a skill he cherished his entire life.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 48-years, Rosalind Nischwitz Schmidt, his daughter, Karen Elaine Schmidt, granddaughter, Brett Elizabeth Sheatzley, son-in-law James Sheatzley, and sister, Arlene Cleary.

He is survived by four children: daughters Sheryl Sheatzley and Rhonda Hiner (Laurence), sons William Schmidt, III (Patricia) and Jonathan Schmidt. Grandchildren: Zachary Meyer (Anne), Kendra Yao (Michael), Abby Sheatzley (Anthony), Garrick Sheatzley (Margaret), Krista Hiner Jozanovic (Matej), Erich Hiner, Ryan Schmidt , Dawn Schmidt, Jenna Cutshall (Jeremy) and David Schmidt, and seven great grandchildren.

He is also survived by his sister Marilyn (Walter) Baird and brother Frederick Schmidt (special friend Peggy); sister-in-law Shirley Turner (Lloyd) and many nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held Friday, January 17 from 6-8 p.m. at the Tobias Funeral Home-Belmont Chapel, 648 Watervliet Ave, Dayton, Ohio. Services will take place at the funeral home on Saturday, January 18 at 10 a.m. Interment will immediately follow at the Willow View Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.