Franklin W. Schmidt, 91, of West Bend, passed away Sunday, January 4, 2009 at the Cedar Lake Health Care Center, West Bend.
He was born on September 15, 1917 in "Rugby Junction" in the town of Polk to the late Frank and Ida (nee Oppermann) Schmidt. He graduated from Custer High School in Milwaukee in 1936 and then worked at J.C. Penney's in West Bend. On July 27, 1940 he was united in marriage to Rosella Hatzung at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Slinger. In 1942 he went to work at the West Bend Company where he was employed until his retirement in 1980. His wife, Rosella, passed away on October 26, 1994
Franklin was an active member of St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church, West Bend, and he also enjoyed golf.
He is survived by four children, Robert (Carol) Schmidt of the town of Belgium, Karen (Tom) Niebler of Hartford, Joanne (Dave) Froemming of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Judith McBride of Hot Springs, Arkansas; ten grandchildren, Catherine Schmidt, Pamela (Andy) Redeker, Michael Beatty, Elizabeth (Keath) Pusch, John Niebler, Lisa (Steve) Tieglman-Koepp, Krysta (Al) Schellinger, Justin Froemming, Eric (Erin) Froemming, and Katie (Keith) Anderson; 14 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Maxine Hatzung of Edina, MN, and Lorraine Rudolph of Eagan, MN; other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, a son, Alan, a granddaughter, Amy Beatty, and a sister, Dorothy Kohl.
Funeral services in remembrance of Franklin will be held on Thursday, January 8 at 12:00 p.m. at St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church, West Bend. Rev. George Mumm will officiate and burial will follow in Washington County Memorial Park, West Bend. Visitation will be at the church on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services.
Memorials to Cedar Community or St. John's Lutheran Church are appreciated.