January
26,
1931
26,
1931
March
18,
2023
18,
2023
William “Bill” Schmidt of Yorkville passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family at home on March 18, 2023. He was 92 years old. Born in 1931, he was the son of August O and Myrtle (Hamby) Schmidt. He married Kathryn May Mauser on June 1, 1952. They spent the next 63 years together until her passing. He enlisted in the Navy and was part of the construction battalion, the Seabees. His service took him to many destinations, during which he developed a love of photography, taking many movies and slides. This record of his travels fed the wanderlust of his daughter, Kathie. Throughout his life, he worked for CB & Q Railroad, Homer G. Dickson in Yorkville, and Chicago Gravel Co. in Plainfield. He was a 45-year member of Local 150.
Some things dad enjoyed most were homemade apple pie, seeing the Big Boy Steam Locomotive, and the need for speed. In his younger years, he raced go-karts. Then he transitioned to racing speedboats. He and his son once owned a Superformance Cobra with a 427 engine. It was a special honor for him to meet Carroll Shelby.
It was always his dream to build his car. It was an obsession and was always in his mind. Despite everyday life's setbacks, along with failing eyesight and decreasing mobility, he persisted in his dream to finish the car.
He is survived by his daughter Kathie (Mike) George of Kettering, Ohio. Kimbria (Steve) Borneman of Yorkville, Kristi (Marty) Schwartz of Yorkville; Karen (Jerry) Bickle of Columbia City, Indiana, and his son William “Billy” (Tammy) Schmidt of Sheridan, Illinois; his grandchildren, Sara George, Jackie (Ryan) Pizinger, Bob Borneman, Jamie (Matt) Cox, Mallory (Brad) Monkemeyer, Katie (Jeff) Findlay, Marci (Ben) Kulbartz, Andy (Claire) Schwartz, Bob Schwartz, Jared, Jessica, and Jordan Bickle, William “Zeke” (Melissa) Schmidt, Miranda (Mike) Considine, Melissa, and Mitchel Schmidt: his 18 great-grandchildren, and his much-loved brother Jerry (Dee) Schmidt; and his nephews Jerry (Carrie) Schmidt and Joe (Becky) Schmidt.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Katie, their infant daughter Kelly: his parents, and an infant great-granddaughter Teagan Cox.
A special thank you to the following devoted friends-his lifelong loyal friend Cecil Piggott, Craig Leifheit, The “Gearheads” (Mike, Joe, Roger, Rick E., Tebo, Rick B.), the Mulligan family, Jill Nichols, Yolanda Campbell, friends at Twin Ponds Fishing Club (especially Kirby Waalen), everyone at O’Malley’s Welding Shop, and a special thanks to his caregiver, Judy McCoy, and Pastor Grieves.
Visitation will be held at Cross Lutheran Church 8609 IL-47, Yorkville, from 4-8 on April 4th. The funeral service will be at 11:00 on April 5th, with visitation 1 hour prior. Memorials may be made to Carroll Shelby Foundation at shelby.com or Cross Lutheran Church.
For more information or to sign the online guestbook go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com
Turner-Eighner Funeral Home
3952 Turner Ave.
Plano, IL 60545
(630) 552-3022
Some things dad enjoyed most were homemade apple pie, seeing the Big Boy Steam Locomotive, and the need for speed. In his younger years, he raced go-karts. Then he transitioned to racing speedboats. He and his son once owned a Superformance Cobra with a 427 engine. It was a special honor for him to meet Carroll Shelby.
It was always his dream to build his car. It was an obsession and was always in his mind. Despite everyday life's setbacks, along with failing eyesight and decreasing mobility, he persisted in his dream to finish the car.
He is survived by his daughter Kathie (Mike) George of Kettering, Ohio. Kimbria (Steve) Borneman of Yorkville, Kristi (Marty) Schwartz of Yorkville; Karen (Jerry) Bickle of Columbia City, Indiana, and his son William “Billy” (Tammy) Schmidt of Sheridan, Illinois; his grandchildren, Sara George, Jackie (Ryan) Pizinger, Bob Borneman, Jamie (Matt) Cox, Mallory (Brad) Monkemeyer, Katie (Jeff) Findlay, Marci (Ben) Kulbartz, Andy (Claire) Schwartz, Bob Schwartz, Jared, Jessica, and Jordan Bickle, William “Zeke” (Melissa) Schmidt, Miranda (Mike) Considine, Melissa, and Mitchel Schmidt: his 18 great-grandchildren, and his much-loved brother Jerry (Dee) Schmidt; and his nephews Jerry (Carrie) Schmidt and Joe (Becky) Schmidt.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Katie, their infant daughter Kelly: his parents, and an infant great-granddaughter Teagan Cox.
A special thank you to the following devoted friends-his lifelong loyal friend Cecil Piggott, Craig Leifheit, The “Gearheads” (Mike, Joe, Roger, Rick E., Tebo, Rick B.), the Mulligan family, Jill Nichols, Yolanda Campbell, friends at Twin Ponds Fishing Club (especially Kirby Waalen), everyone at O’Malley’s Welding Shop, and a special thanks to his caregiver, Judy McCoy, and Pastor Grieves.
Visitation will be held at Cross Lutheran Church 8609 IL-47, Yorkville, from 4-8 on April 4th. The funeral service will be at 11:00 on April 5th, with visitation 1 hour prior. Memorials may be made to Carroll Shelby Foundation at shelby.com or Cross Lutheran Church.
For more information or to sign the online guestbook go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com
Turner-Eighner Funeral Home
3952 Turner Ave.
Plano, IL 60545
(630) 552-3022
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