Anderson Funeral Home
Homeserving families for over 70 years
312 South Stone St.
Augusta, WI 54722
715-286-2222
Rick Schmidt
Rick R. Schmidt, 74, of Augusta, passed away at his home Monday, April 30, 2018.
Rickie Roland Schmidt, son of Marlin and Josephine (Schmidt) Schmidt was born March 22, 1944. He was raised in Fairchild where he attended grade school, graduated in 1962 from Fairchild High School and worked in all aspects of his parent’s Cheese Factory, including hauling milk. He was a confirmed and life long member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fairchild, where he had served as an elder. Rick served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War with the radar maintenance division in Germany. After his honorable discharge he returned to Fairchild, where he hauled logs for the Bob Nicholson Sawmill and also drove dump truck during road construction near the twin cities. Rick then switched to driving semi for Brunzlick Trucking of Augusta, before purchasing “Big Red” his first semi which he drove for Diamond Trucking. In 1980 Schmidt Brothers’ Transport was established. Rick with his brother Jim operated the business for 33 years, transporting mostly perishable foods throughout the Midwest. Rick fully retired on Oct. 31, 2013 and at that time they were proud of the fact that they were still servicing customers that had been with them from the start of business. On August 4, 1979 Rick was united in marriage to Jane Tillotson at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. With this marriage he instantly became a loving father to Johnna and Toni, and from that day on he cherished the roll of father and eventually grandfather.
Rick loved the outdoors; fishing and hunting with family and friends. He looked forward to the fishing trips to Canada and the annual Father’s Day outing with his girls to the Appleton area. The extended family spent many enjoyable days at their cabin in Rock Dam. This cabinwas moved from Fairchild, as it had once been the building that housed the Schmidt’s Cheese Store. A favorite past time of Rick’s was collecting, refinishing and doing the mechanically repairs to old cars. This was a family endeavor when it came to fixing them up but the entire family also got to enjoy them when they were rode ready. Rick lived his life surrounded by a loving family and he returned that love to each and every one of them.
He will be remembered as a good man; a loving husband to Jane; an admired father to Johnna and Toni;and a “popsicle grandpa” to his precious grandchildren. Rick will be deeply missed by Jane, his wife of 38 years; daughters, Johnna (Tracey) Schindler of Caryville, Toni (Duane) Checky of Marshall; 5 grandchildren, Kayla (Eric) Geske, Lexi Martens (Sam Wold), Peyton Schindler, Cortney Checky and Carly Checky. He is also survived by his beloved siblings, James (Sherri) Schmidt of Fairchild, Gloria (Ronald) Watson of Rockford, IL, Susan (David) Olinger of Eau Claire, Lois (Greg) Laufenberg of Osseo; and several nieces and nephews and their families.
Rick was preceded in death by his father Marlin on Sept. 15, 1985; his mother Josephine on June 20, 2012; and nephew James Schmidt on Sept. 8, 2010.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 5, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fairchild. Burial with military rites conducted by Augusta area veterans will be held in the Fairchild Cemetery.
A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta, and one hour prior to services Saturday at the church.
Online condolences can be left at www.andersonfhaugusta.com
