Wilbur Schmidt

Wilbur P. Schmidt, age 82 of Hamel, IL, died Wednesday, August 1, 2012, at Saint Louis University Hospital in Saint Louis, MO. He was born October 18, 1929, in Hamel, the son of Emil and Louise (nee Brunnworth) Schmidt. On April 8, 1951, he married Lillian Mildred Schmidt nee Renken who survives. ?
He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. He was also a member of American Legion Post 564 - Worden; St. Paul Lutheran Choir (50+ years); Cahokia Mounds Museum Society (over 40 years); and Golden Agers of St. Paul Luthern Church.?
Wilbur was born and reared on the family farm in Hamel Township and lived there all his life except for 2 years while he was in the U.S. Army. He served with the United States Army from 1953 to 1955; he was a hand radio operator operating Morse Code. He farmed grain and raised cattle most of his life. He retired in 1982. He enjoyed bowling, searching for Indian artifacts, and carving wood. He had carved the Paschal Candle Stand for St. Paul Church (in memory of Wilbur Behrhorst) and four Processional Crosses and four Torch Stands for St. Paul Church and for three other churches in the area. He showed and spoke about his Indian artifacts at schools and nursing homes.
Survivors include his wife, Lillian M. Schmidt nee Renken, Hamel; two daughters, Sharon L. (Lyndell) Shaw, East Alton, and Jane M. Schmidt, Plano, TX; son Richard A. (Christina) Schmidt, Saint Peters, MO; 5 grandchildren: Nicole (Patrick) Whitecotton, Cleveland, TN, Monica Ahsan, Plano, TX, Andrew Schmidt, Saint Peters, MO, Brendan Schmidt, Saint Peters, MO, and Evan Schmidt, Saint Peters, MO; two great grandchildren, Riley Whitecotton, Cleveland, TN, and Zoe Whitecotton, Cleveland, TN; and a sister, LaVerne Schumacher, Alhambra.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Louise Schmidt; and two brothers, Russell Schmidt and Elmer Schmidt (as an infant).
Arrangements are being handled by Dauderman Mortuary in Hamel.?
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, August 3, 2012, at Dauderman Mortuary in Hamel, and from 9 to 10 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hamel.?
Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 4, 2012, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hamel, with Rev. William Gleason officiating.?
Interment will be at a later date at Saint Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Hamel.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church.