Earl C. Schmidt, Jr.

My childhood home was near the Schmidt's house and our families were good friends. I remember Mr Schmidt playing classical music that filled the house, white boxes filled with Party Pastry treats in the kitchen and adventures to the circus that Mr. Schmidt arranged. I was impressed by his work ethic and his unwavering commitment to his business. I was also amazed by his ability to maintain and repair his own equipment as a business owner. In recent years I called him more than once to ask his...

Dear Mrs. Schmidt, Wally, Anne, Andrew, and Beth,

I am so sorry to hear about Mr. Schmidt’s passing. For so many years, your family has been our dear friends, even after our family moved overseas and back.

My memories of him go far beyond him being a world-class baker. He carried a calm about him, yet he had a strong presence and a keen intellect. You had better have done your homework if you were going to discuss issues with him. If not, he would calmly explain why you...

Earl, Mr.Schmidt, was running the Party Pastry Shop with Marianne in 1972 and through my entire childhood as their direct neighbor in the Claymont community of Ballwin, Mo. He inadvertently helped raise me as a faithful and constant presence either next door or up the hill at the Bakery. I remember him standing in the back room of the business in his white baking hat and apron showing me his flour covered equipment while he scratched his allergically reacting flour covered neck. I can only...