Deacon Paul David Schmidt

Paul, 79, was born in Detroit, Michigan, on October 25, 1942, to Kathryn McGrath Schmidt and Lawrence Paul Schmidt, of Urbana, OH, and was the youngest of their four children including Eleanor, Hugh, and Gerald, all deceased.He moved to the suburb of Birmingham, MI, when he was five years old. He grew up there, was educated, married, and had his family in Michigan until he was transferred to Arlington Heights, through his job, in 1980.

Paul died in Northwest Community Hospital, in Arlington Heights, on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, after years of off and on again illnesses...originating with agent orange that he contracted as a Marine fighting in Vietnam. He had made so many come-backs that he was known as the 'Miracle Man!' Unfortunately, this past year had been extremely rough on him and saw his health spiraling downwards since his bout with COVID, in January. He was unable to rise again this last time, especially in the past few weeks. God had decided it was time to take him home with Him to rest.

Paul lived his entire life in service to his God, his family and neighbor. After serving five years in the Marine Corps, and ministering to his fellow soldiers in the fields of Vietnam, he began working within his church and community, eventually ministering to friends and family before choosing to serve God in a more personal way. After his retirement from Corporate America in 1995, he chose to serve as an Ordained Deacon for the Archdiocese of Chicago, and in particular, at St. James Catholic Church, in Arlington Heights. He was Ordained in May, 2001 and continued ministering there in conjunction with his 'retirement' job of 23.6 years as the Business Manager at Holy Cross Parish, in Deerfield, where he recently left this past June. He was truly a beloved family member of both Parishes and loved them all dearly, in return.

He will be greatly missed by many! Especially his wife, Paulette, with whom he celebrated their 55th anniversary on September 16th. He was a deeply devoted father to Jennifer and David (Michelle) Schmidt, and a loving grandfather to James, Matthew and Michael Schmidt, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, who loved him very much.

As a special tribute to an unknown young woman (from the Kankakee area) our family would like to say Thank You and Bless You for donating her kidney and liver to Paul which added TEN years to his life. Her organs were not given in vain. He used them up through his many labors of LOVE! Your kindness will always be remembered by us.

Visitation will be from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm, Thursday, September 29, 2022, at St. James Catholic Church, 831 N. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60004 and on Friday September 30, 2022, from 9:00 am until time of Funeral Mass at 10:30 am. Committal service with honors ceremony at 11:00 am, Monday, October 3, 2022 at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, 20953 West Hoff Road, Elwood, IL 60421. Guests, please meet at the Information Booth/Staging area.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, www.stjude.org or to Aid for Women, 8 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, https://form.jotform.com/202096507214146

Funeral information and condolences www.GlueckertFH.com or (847) 253-0168.