Melvin L. Schmidt, age 85, of Annandale died Monday, December 27, 2010 at the Annandale Care Center.

 

Funeral Services will be held 2:30 p.m. Sunday, January 2, 2011 at Bethlehem United Church of Christ, Maple Lake with Rev. Dr. Jeffrey B. Palmer officiating. Burial will be in Bethlehem United Church of Christ Cemetery, Maple Lake at 10:00 a.m. on Monday. Friends may call after 1:00 p.m. Sunday at the church. Memorials are preferred to the Bethlehem United Church of Christ Memorial Fund.

 

Melvin Lester Schmidt was born March 31, 1925 in Albion Township, Wright County to Hubert and Elsie (Ruge) Schmidt. He was baptized at Albion Evangelical Church and confirmed at Bethlehem Evangelical Church. On September 20, 1947, Melvin was united in marriage to Glenice Lenore Johnson at Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church. They celebrated their 63^rd wedding anniversary in September.

 

Melvin resided on the same farm all his life. He was the fourth generation to farm the Schmidt homestead in Albion Township. In 1980, the Schmidt Farm was recognized as a Minnesota Century Farm. Melvin and his father, Hubert, were the first Pioneer Seed Corn Salesmen in Wright County. In 1996 after selling corn for 50 years, Melvin retired from selling seed; he never retired from farming. He was a lifelong member of Bethlehem United Church of Christ in Maple Lake. In his younger years, Melvin enjoyed bowling, playing cards and fishing with his Grandpa Herman. Baseball and watching the Minnesota Twins were favorite past times. Melvin’s greatest enjoyment was spending time with his family and friends.

 

Melvin is survived by his wife, Glenice; children, Nancy and her husband, Steven Steinleitner of Annandale, Jane and her husband, Joseph Zweber of Eden Prairie, David and his wife, Mary of Annandale, and Lori and her husband, Thomas Fisher of Raleigh, NC; granddaughters, Amy Buccek, Kari Palmer, Ann Zweber, Heidi Caputo, Beth Steinleitner and Kate Fisher; great-grandsons, Stone Caputo and Evan Palmer; sister, Lorna and her husband, Allison Ittel of Brooklyn Center; and brother, Harold and his wife, Nelda Schmidt of Annandale.

 

Pallbearers will be Daniel Ittel, Jeff Schmidt, Jason Buccek, Ryan Palmer, Yago Estrada-Ruiz and Adam Caputo. Honorary pallbearers will be Amy Buccek, Kari Palmer, Ann Zweber, Heidi Caputo, Beth Steinleitner and Kate Fisher. David Schmidt, Heidi Caputo, Kate Fisher and Myrna Jude will provide the music for the service. Arrangements are entrusted to Dingmann Funeral Care, Maple Lake.