Frederick Schmidt

Frederick Schmidt will be remembered as a hard working man that provided his family with everything they needed. Although he may have seemed a bit gruff on the outside, Fred had a warm, caring soul on the inside and gave his all for his family. Times were hard in the United States in 1930, unemployment rates were high, and spirits were low as many American families tried to stretch their dollars in order to survive the Great Depression. In Grand Haven, Michigan, Fred Schmidt, Sr. was one of the lucky few who had a job; he drove a truck. He and his wife, Melba (Eikenberger), also farmed their 80 acres of land on Lincoln Street in Grand Haven Township, as well as raised pigs and cows. In the spring of 1930, while the couple prepared the fields for crops, they also made preparations at home for the arrival of their child due to be born soon. On March 28, 1930, their son, Frederick Melvin Jr., took his first breaths in the world. Sadly, Fred lost his mother when he was only five. His father later remarried to a lady named Lillian, and they also had children together. Fred was soon one of seven Schmidt children; he had five brothers, Don, Clarence, John, Ed and Richard, and one sister, Lillian. The Schmidt family lived a very modest life in a house that had no running water, indoor plumbing or electricity. The children were all expected to do their share of chores around the farm, in addition to attending school every day at Bignell School. Like many young boys of the time, Fred left school after the eighth grade in order to help provide for his family. He worked a variety of jobs, including in a fish house, a toaster factory and drove a coal truck for Neitring Coal Dock. At the age of eighteen, Fred enlisted in the U.S. Army in August of 1948, and then headed to California for boot camp. Following training, he was stationed in Japan during the Korean War, where he served in the Military Police as a Prison Guard at Sagamo Prison in Tokyo. (This was the same prison where the former Emperor of Japan was being held.) After three years in Japan, Fred returned to the states in 1952, and was assigned to the Military Prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. It was while in Kansas that Fred met a lovely young lady (seven years younger in fact) named Frances Martin. He would often see Frances and her girlfriends hanging out around town and would honk at them while driving by in his yellow convertible. That didn't really impress Frances much at first, but when the two were set up on a blind date, Frances fell head over heels for Fred. The young couple had been dating for two years when Fred received his honorable discharge from the military. Thereafter, he headed home to Grand Haven to secure his old job at Neitring Coal, and then returned to Kansas to marry his sweetheart, Frances, on June 4, 1955. The newlyweds made their first home together in Grand Haven on Fulton Street. While here, they saved money to have a house built on Lincoln Street, close to where Fred grew up. In 1956, the couple welcomed the birth of their first son, Ken, and shortly after his arrival, the family of three moved into their new house. Fred and Frances then filled their home with the busyness of three more sons: Chuck born in 1959, Mark in 1961, and Mike in 1965. As a father, Fred could be quite stern, yet his family knew he had a soft heart. When his two sons, Mark and Chuck, were in a terrible car accident and received serious injuries, Fred was vigilantly by their sides throughout their recovery. When his boys were younger, Fred liked to take them hunting and fishing on the banks of the Grand River or ice fishing in the Bayous. He would often take them with him too when he made deliveries with his coal truck. As a family, they enjoyed many great vacations, including to Disney World and to visit relatives in Kansas and Alabama. Fred worked for Neitring for over 30 years, and after they closed up, he continued to drive a truck for several other companies. His last job was with Eagle Ottawa Leather Co., where he retired in 1992. Fred looked forward to retirement because he now had more time to devote to his garden, his one true passion. For many years, he faithfully tended to his acre size garden, which boasted of corn, potatoes and other vegetables as well as beautiful flowers. Fred would have his sons help him keep the garden weed free, and the money he made on selling some of the produce, he gave to his boys for spending money. In retirement, Fred and Frances also took the opportunity to travel more often. Fred was a member of the Sagaro Prison Reunion Association, and the couple attended many of their reunions and also visited friends from this group throughout the year. A creature of habit, Fred liked to stay in the same places he had been before, and visit many of the same places, including his favorite casinos. Since he refused to fly, he drove them wherever they were going. With more leisure time on his hands, Fred could also keep up on his favorite sports teams, like the University of Michigan (never Michigan State), the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions. Really, Fred liked all kinds of sports and knew lots of statistics. Around 1994, Fred had triple bypass surgery on his heart, which slowed him down some. Over the last few years, he had been experiencing more breathing problems and his health was growing weaker. Fred died unexpectedly at his home on March 20th. Fred will be lovingly remembered by his family as a wonderful husband, father and grandfather, who will be dearly missed. Frederick Melvin Schmidt, Jr., age 76 of Grand Haven, MI, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 20, 2007, at his home. He is survived by his wife, Frances; 4 sons: Ken (Tina) Schmidt of Grand Haven, Charles (Tammy) Schmidt of Ferrysburg, Mark (Holly) Schmidt of West Olive and Michael (Amy) Schmidt of Grand Haven; 7 grandchildren: Amy Sue Amos, Ryann Schmidt, Sharijo Schmidt, Charles Schmidt Jr., Matt Schmidt, Mark Schmidt Jr. and Kaleb Schmidt; 2 great grandchildren, Skyler and Kaden Amos; 1 sister, Lillian Marcum of Grand Haven; 3 brothers: Donald (Maxine) Schmidt of Grand Haven, Clarence (Lois) Schmidt of Grand Haven and John Schmidt of Muskegon; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and 2 brothers, Ed and Richard. Funeral services for Fred will be held on Friday, March 23, at 11:00 a.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home in Grand Haven with Pastor Gary Lacy officiating. Interment at Lakeshore Cemetery. Friends and relatives may visit with Fred's family on Thursday, March 22, from 6-8 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory or sign his online guest book.