During Cirrinity’s Dec. 10 annual company party at Maple Hills Golf Course in Wittenberg, one employee was recognized for a life-saving scenario from 28 years ago.
Jeremy Paquette, who was invited to the party with his family, honored Dave Schmidt, because Schmidt helped to save Paquette’s life when he was just 4 years old. According to Sylvia Nueske, Paquette’s grandmother, she and her husband were watching Jeremy and his brother, when Jeremy wanted to ride on a big lawnmower.
As his brother was mowing the lawn, Nueske said, that he got to the end of the yard, when he started backing up, not realizing that Jeremy was running behind the mower, wanting to get a ride.
Nueske said she was chasing him and yelling for him to stop, but due to the noise of the mower, the brother couldn’t hear her. At the same time, Nueske said, a telephone line repairman — Dave Schmidt — was on a pole working and heard the commotion. Schmidt started waving his hands frantically and got the attention of the lawnmower operator to stop the vehicle and in essence saved Paquette’s life.
“That saved the day of our little grandson being very much injured or maybe having his life taken,” said Nueske. “We have been so blessed. We are so thankful.”
Paquette said that the Cirrinity company party was the first time that he had actually met Schmidt and while their relationship had not been developed, it started 28 years ago.
“I have never met him before today, but when I was 4 — that is when our relationship started,” said Paquette. “It is nice to meet him. It is nice to know who it is that literally gave me the biggest blessings of my life.”
Without Schmidt’s actions that day, Paquette said, there would have been no opportunity for him to meet his wife and have children.
“That is the result of him saving my life,” said Paquette. “It has been a dream come true to get married and have kids, and I realized that would have never happened without his quick actions.”
Because it has been 28 years since the event and since the last time Paquette and Schmidt had any communication, Paquette said that he was overwhelmed with emotion.
“I have never really known who he was or if I would ever meet him,” said Paquette. “I felt like I always knew him, though, because he was such a big part of my life.”
At the event, along with his family, Paquette bought gifts for Schmidt and his wife, including shirts that say “Hero” and “Mrs. Hero” and a plaque honoring Schmidt and calling him a “Local Hero.”
“I just want him to know that we have not forgotten about him,” said Paquette. “My mom contacted him a couple years ago and he did not remember, but it’s just being in the right place at the right time and just doing what a good person would do. This is always a story that my family tells.”
Paquette said that due in part to Schmidt and this story, his son has become interested in vehicles and what Paquette describes as “anything that moves.” He said that he is using this story as a lesson for him and and his son to be more careful around farming vehicles.
“It is even good for me to remember what happened and to keep a close eye on my son,” said Paquette.
As for Schmidt, he was surprised to see the boy that he had saved 28 years ago show up with his family at Cirrinity’s company party, something that Cirrinity CEO Scott Nyman has been working on for weeks.
“It is amazing that they reached out and that they are here,” said Schmidt, noting that he doesn’t remember much of the incident. “He has been thinking about this on and off for years — it’s great. It is also great to know that there are still good people out there.”
Schmidt said that it is a great feeling to know that even after all of these years, the family is still thankful for his actions and that they haven’t stopped thinking about him.
“It feels like I am appreciated,” said Schmidt, pointing to the gifts and the kind words. “I wasn’t looking for appreciation or anything when it happened. I was just doing my job.”
He added that in general, he was just happy that a tragedy was avoided and that Paquette was able to start a family and live his life to the fullest.
“It is amazing and mind-boggling to see him with his own family now,” said Schmidt.
lreimer@newmedia-wi.com
Local hero recognized at company party
