Jerry Schmidt Sr.'s Obituary
Gerald (Jerry) Francis Schmidt, Sr., 90, of North Ridgeville, Ohio, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on March 8, 2023, in Bradenton, Florida. He was born on November 25, 1932, to the late Walter William Schmidt and Margaret Mary (Hawes) Schmidt in Cleveland, Ohio.
Jerry was raised in the Kamm's Corners area of Cleveland and attended Our Lady of Angels Catholic grade school and graduated from St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland in 1950. He attended Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, for two years and was drafted into the Army in 1952 and served in the 60th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion in Fort Bliss, Texas, and in the United Kingdom. During this time, he met the love of his life and wife of 66 years, Virginia (Ginny) Fate Schmidt.
In 1966, he moved the family from Cleveland to Independence, Ohio, where he and Ginny lived for 45 years and raised their six children. He was an active member of St. Michael's Catholic Church and sang in the choir for many years.
Jerry worked for the Chrysler Corporation for over 26 years as a District Service Manager for the northeast Ohio area. He was fortunate to be able to retire early at the age of 58. For the past 25 years, he enjoyed spending his winters in the warmth of Bradenton, Florida, in the community of Heather Hills, where he served as treasurer for many years. In 2011, he and Ginny moved from Independence to the senior community of Pioneer Ridge in North Ridgeville, Ohio.
Jerry enjoyed golfing, playing cards and bocce ball, bowling, reading spy novels, and following the Cleveland Indians/Guardians, Browns and Cavaliers sports teams. He was a devoted grandfather, great grandfather, and a great great grandfather and one of his joys in life was seeing his children and grandchildren grow from babies to accomplished women and men.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Virginia; 6 children: Kathy Smallwood (Tim), Karen Funke (Patrick), Kim Thompson (Mike), Karolyn Voytko (Tom), Kris Fisher (Robert), and Jerry Schmidt, Jr. (Sonia); 15 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. He is preceded in death by his sister Luanne (Lanny) Conroy (Tom).
Family will receive friends in THE VODRAZKA FUNERAL HOME OF INDEPENDENCE, 6505 BRECKSVILLE RD., (RT. 21, S. OF ROCKSIDE), Wednesday, June 7th, 2023 FROM 6-8 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, June 8th, 2023 at St. Michael Catholic Church, 6540 Brecksville Rd., Independence, at 10 am (PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH). Private interment will take place at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, Ohio with full military honors.
Memorial contributions may be made in the name of Gerald Schmidt to St. Ignatius High School.
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