Francis J. Schmidt

Francis J Schmidt, 89, passed away peacefully Tuesday, February 1, 2022, at Mulder Healthcare in West Salem, WI. He was born March 19, 1932 to Frank and Adeline (Kneifl) Schmidt in La Crosse, WI.  He graduated from The Ridge School on St. Joseph's Ridge and was a lifelong member of St. Joseph's Ridge Catholic Church. He was a dairy farmer for more than forty years.  After retirement he worked at Fox Hollow Golf Course in Barre Mills for another eight years.

As a young man he enjoyed twelve-inch fast pitch soft ball.  He and his family enjoyed target archery and were long time members of the Black Hawk Archery Club.  He was also a member of the River City R/C flying club of La Crosse for many years.

He enjoyed building and flying quarter scale biplanes as well as many other types of propeller driven aircraft.  He was a member of the EAA for more than twenty years and a charter member of the Ridgerunner Snowmobile Club.  He did 4H for many years as well.

He married the love of his life, Irene Urbanek, August 28, 1956 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Coon Valley, WI.  Celebrating their 65th Anniversary this past year. To this union they had four children:  Roxanne, Ronald, Richard and Ryan, nine grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

Francis is survived by his wife, Irene; son's Ron (Betty), Rick (Mary) and Ryan (Tiffany); grandchildren, Jessica (Jared) Hauser, Anthony (Miranda) Schmidt, Emily and Zachary Blakeley, Mara and Bailee Schmidt, Cambria, Brynn and Josee Schmidt; great grandchildren; Gabriel, Sophie, Layla, Victoria and Clay Blakeley, Joshua and Jaxson Hauser, and Stella Schmidt.  Siblings, Ken (Rose) Schmidt, Arleen Haverly, Sylvia (John) Cullmann and Lyn (Jon) Labus and their families.  Irene's siblings; Clarence Urbanek, Willie (Marlys) Urbanek, La Verne (Barb) Urbanek and Alvin (Faye) Urbanek and their families. Former son-in-law Scott (Hollie) Blakeley.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Roxy (2001), brother-in-law Karl Haverly, sisters-in-law Elizabeth "Betty" Hedrick and Joan Urbanek.

The family would like to thank the staff at Mulders as well as the hospice staff from Mayo Healthcare for the compassionate, excellent care they provided Francis during his stay there. Private family services and burial in St. Joseph's Ridge Catholic Cemetery will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to St. Joseph's Ridge Catholic Church.