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Karl W. Schmidt, age 87, of Mendon, died Saturday April 13, 2013 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born in Chicago, IL on March 11, 1926 the son of Erich and Klara (Gedeon) Schmidt. When he was a child the family moved back to Germany. After WWII he emigrated back to the United States and settled in Mendon. He was employed at the former Haas Corporation which later became Lear Siegler where he was a tool and die maker specializing in mold repair. Karl retired in 1991 after 39 years with the company. He was a member of U.A.W. Local 503 and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Colon. He loved to fish, travel, and work about his home. He was married to Barbara (Koch) Schmidt on June 29, 1957, and they were the first couple married at St. Paul Lutheran Church’s current location in Colon.
Karl is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Barbara Schmidt; two sons, John Schmidt of Lewisville, TX and Werner Schmidt of Ft. Wayne, IN; three sisters, Margaret (Werner) Faas of Plainfield, IL, Irmgard Schmidt of St. Lauderdale, FL, and Betty (Richard) Clark of St. Charles, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents, Eric and Klara Schmidt; and an older brother, Gustav. Karl always put his family first, was greatly loved, and will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Eickhoff Funeral Home in Mendon. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday April 17, 2013 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 484 S. Burr Oak Rd., Colon, MI 49040 with Pastor David Grimm officiating. Burial will be in Mendon Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to either St. Paul Lutheran Church, or to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (www.lls.org). An online register is available at www.eickhofffuneralhome.com
