William Schmidt

William Schmidt Sr. passed away on March 5, 2011. Though many will remember William as a Calgary Christian businessman, and founder of Wm. Schmidt Mechanical Contractors Ltd., his family is feeling the loss of a husband, a father, and a brother. He is survived by his ever-supportive wife Erna (nee Wedel) Schmidt, and their five children: William Jr., Garry (Susan), Manfred (Angela), David (Sonia), and Dorothy (Todd); and their eight grandchildren Michael, Thomas, Matthew, Benjamin, Tobias, Lukas, Eva, and Joshua Schmidt. William was born on January 22, 1926 in Lulla, Hungary, the fourth of twelve children to Henry and Elisabeth Schmidt. Descendants of German immigrants to Hungary in the 1700s, the Schmidt’s owned a store in Tab, Hungary. Tragically, William’s father Henry died in 1942 due to illness, and his widowed mother and her many children had to flee to Germany in 1944. William saw the tragedy of war first hand, and at the end of the war he was hospitalized with severe pneumonia, which affected his health for the rest of his life. In 1948 William married his beloved Erna Wedel in Göppingen, Germany, and they immigrated to Canada in 1954 with their young son William (Bill Jr.). Living first in Winnipeg, they then moved to Calgary in 1956, where four more children were born. Like his father before him, William had a talent for business, and in Calgary he established Wm. Schmidt Sheet Metal Ltd. and Bridge Trailer Industries. Though many will say his attention to detail, innovative mind, meticulous organizational skills, and entrepreneurial spirit were the key ingredients to his business success, his family knows that it was a gift from God. William was very active in the North American Baptist Conference. He had a big generous heart and loved to help people, never forgetting the struggles of being a refugee and an immigrant, and always remembering the grace of God in his life during family tragedy, war and survival. William was predeceased by siblings Henry, John, Elisabeth and Helmut, and is fondly remembered by his brothers Rudy (Martha), Josef (Trudy), Emil (Dora), and Frank (Dorothea), his sisters Lydia (Adolf), Tabea (Hans-Jürgen), and Maria (Richard), as well as his many nieces and nephews…and their children…and their children. “In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your path.” Proverbs 3:6

The Schmidt Family would like to thank Dr. Scott and nurses Marilyn and Kate of the PLC’s Chronic Care Clinic, and the caring staff at Agape Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations by cheque or credit card may be made (In memory of William Schmidt) to one of his favorite places Camp Caroline, a family retreat centre.(Camp Caroline, Box 250, Caroline, AB T0M 0M0, 403-722-3939) A Funeral Service will be held at Brentview Baptist Church, 3512 Charleswood Drive NW, Calgary on Friday, March 11, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family via the website www.fostersgardenchapel.net.

FOSTER'S GARDEN CHAPEL

FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM

Telephone: 403-297-0888

Honoured Provider of Dignity Memorial