Mary Evelyn Schmidt

Mary Evelyn Schmidt, 71, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, passed away at Coventry Meadown nursing home October 25, 2025, She was born April 17, 1954, and passed away on October 25. As a young student at both J.A. Craig High School in Janesville, Wisconsin, and the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, she excelled in debate, public speaking, civics, theater and literature. Later in life she received a Master of Science in Business Management degree from Indiana Wesleyan University. While still in her early twenties, she was hired as a facility Activity Director, a staff position at convalescent and nursing homes, in two southern Wisconsin cities. But by 1983, her lifelong interest in government took over and she was elected to the Janesville City Council-the youngest woman to hold the position at the time. Her colleagues selected her Council President after she won her second two year term. During this time, she was also asked to join the staff in the office of the Wisconsin State Assembly's Sergeant of Arms. In 1986, Mary moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, with her husband, Randy, who had taken a transfer to the new GM Truck Assembly Plant. She was quickly hired to help implement Mayor Win Moses' Citizen's Advocate program, and then Indiana Congresswoman Jill Long chose her to serve as her new District Director. Later, Mary accepted a long assignment for the NE Indiana Division of Family and Children. Her last government position was with Fort Wayne City Utilities. A lifelong advocacy for community service and not-for profit organizations led to positions for Mary as Director of Development for Planned Parenthood of NE Indiana and State Director of ICAAN, an HIV patient advocacy organization based in Indianapolis. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Evelyn Wellnitz, and three siblings, Thomas, John and Carol. She is survived by three other siblings, Catherine Daniel (Scott), Laura Bickle (Mark) and Mark Wellnitz (Sandi), all of Janesville, as well as eight nieces and nephews.

Mary did not wish to have a funeral service, but a private celebration of life will take place at a future date with family members in her hometown of Janesville, Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions should be made to the Wayne Street Center, a low-income student education assistance program in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Services in care of