Donald Wallace Schmidt

His beloved wife, Ruthellen "Ellie" (Spersrud) Schmidt, passed before him. He leaves his daughter, Kathleen McKinney and her husband Mike Hinesley from Tulsa, OK, his daughter Colleen Routh and her husband Gary Routh from Lebanon, TN, his grandchildren, Clayton McKinney from Oklahoma City, OK and Austin McKinney from Claremore, OK, Meghan Routh and Jacob Routh, both from Lebanon, TN, his sisters-in-law, Carol Darrington and Jane(Dave) Rockrohr, and his brother-in-law Dean Spersrud all from WI and their families, his nieces, Diane Salge and Donna Wood and his nephew Dale Salge, and their families, all from MN, loyal friends and many compassionate caregivers over the last three years.

Predeceased relatives besides his wife are: Mom and Dad: William and Gertrude (Klatt) Schmidt. His sister, Eleanor Salge and brother-in-law Frank Salge all from MN.

He was born in Blue Earth, MN March 3, 1933.

Born and raised in Blue Earth, MN, Mr. Schmidt studied at Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, IL. There he met and married his first wife Rita(Etter), moved to Pensacola, FL for his vicarage and then on to serve at his first church in Silver City, NM, where both of his daughters were born.

The family moved to Pueblo, CO then to Chicago, Illinois where he did chaplaincy training. This training took him to Milwaukee, WI where he served as chaplain for the Milwaukee County Institutions for 9 years. Here he met and married his second wife, Ellie and they eventually moved to Nashville, TN where he was pastor at Concordia Lutheran Church. After his retirement, they joined Our Savior Lutheran Church on Franklin Pike in Nashville. Eventually, Don began his new role as support person to Ellie while she spent the next 15 years serving as a devoted teacher in the defense department educational system. They traveled to and lived in many countries during this time. Ellie retired in 2004 when they returned to their beloved home on Vine Ridge Drive in Nashville, TN. They began many domestic travels and adventures including many trips to Door County, WI. After Ellie's passing, Don remained faithful to her wish of publishing her educational chants and was successful in that endeavor through the help of Marge Henderson and Elliott Sewell.

He was a devoted husband, loyal, loving and caring father, grandfather and uncle. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Memorial contributions to be made in lieu of flowers to: Alzheimer's Association

Service to be held at a later date in WI.