Donald Schmidt Jr.

Donald Schmidt Jr., 65, Coleman, died Thursday afternoon, Aug. 18, 2022, at home surrounded by family. The oldest of six children of Donald and Gertrude (Zansler) Schmidt Sr., Donald Jr. was born Aug. 24, 1956, in Wells, Minnesota. Don grew up in Wells and graduated high school with the Class of 1974. Following graduation, he attended college in Waseca, Minnesota, graduating with his degree in Soils and Ag Chemistry. On Dec. 29, 1989, he married Diane VandenBush at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Oconto Falls. The couple has lived most of their married lives in Coleman, where Don was employed as a certified agronomist at United Cooperative, formerly Bay Lakes, for over 30 years. He was a longtime member of St. Anthony Catholic Parish in Oconto Falls, where he taught religious education classes for many years. As an avid Harley-Davidson enthusiast, he was a member of the Wildfire Hog Chapter and Forever Riders, making annual appearances at the Jerry Parins Cruise for Cancer Ride. Don also enjoyed bowling, gardening and motorcycle rides. Don and his family would like to thank the nurses at Bellin oncology and the staff at Unity hospice. We would also like to thank friends, family and neighbors, and give a special thank you to the Forever Riders and Dick and Joyce Patenaude, for their love, support, friendship and many years of making lifelong memories. Survivors are his wife, Diane Schmidt, Coleman; his mother, Gertrude Schmidt, Owatonna, Minnesota; one son, Joe (Peggy) Schmidt, Chelsea, Maine; three grandchildren, Honore, Alex and Eddie; five siblings, Cynthia (Joe) Stock, Washburn; Bryan Schmidt, Northfield, Minnesota; Annette (Doug) Kloos, Owatonna, Minnesota; Barry (Nancy) Schmidt, Montgomery, Minnesota; Joel (Tracy) Schmidt, Mapleton, Minnesota; his mother-in-law, Margaret VandenBush; Diane’s family, Cindy (Lincoln) Petersen, Rick (Patty) VandenBush, Dan (Karen) VandenBush, Lisa (Ed) Christensen and Paula (Gary) Hansen; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Don Sr., in 2017, father-in-law Ralph “Jack” VandenBush, and sister-in-law Sheila Schmidt. Visitation with the urn present will be held 4-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, 2022, at Jones Funeral Service in Oconto Falls. Visitation will continue at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Oconto Falls until the time of service. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at church with the Rev. Fr. Robert Karuhn officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to the Jerry Parins Cruise for Cancer.