THOMAS SCHMIDT

THOMAS SCHMIDT 11/15/1952 - 08/13/2025 A private, family funeral service honoring the life of Thomas "Tom" Schmidt, 72, of Cottonwood will take place at Christ Lutheran Church in Cottonwood. A public visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, from 4 - 6 p.m. at the church. He will be interred with military honors at Christ Lutheran Cemetery in Cottonwood. Thomas Rae Schmidt was born on November 15, 1952, in Redwood Falls to LeRoy and Donna (Olson) Schmidt and grew up on a farm south of Wood Lake. Tom was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in rural Wood Lake, attended St. Luke's Parochial School through 8th grade, and graduated from Wood Lake High School in 1970. After graduating from high school, he worked in the Twin Cities for a period of time and then joined the Navy. Following his service in the military, he returned to Wood Lake to help on the family farm. He was united in marriage to Nancy Fenger in 1974. To this union was born four children Jeff, James, Jon and Tami. Tom married Rhoda Meschke (Laechelt) on June 15, 1996, and they made their home in Cottonwood. Tom's work career included livestock and grain farming, working at Taylor Lumber, Preuss Farms, Norcraft Companies, Furst-McNess Company and HoffCo. He also worked as a self-employed carpenter and self-employed truck driver (FCE and ADM). Tom loved spending time in conversation with members of the community and those he would meet during their weekend outings. He was a great historian for the family, remembering family history and relationships that many didn't. Tom was blessed to have his four children and their families living in the same community and cherished the times they could get together. Tom died unexpectedly on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in the Twin Cities following a medical emergency. He is survived by his wife Rhoda; children Jeff (India) Schmidt and their children Easton and Jaela; James Schmidt (Melanie Handeland) and daughter Grace; Jon (Alicia) Schmidt and their children Breckin and Briggs; and Tami (Nathan) Lange and their children Mya, Kace and McKyla, all residing in the Cottonwood area. He is also survived by siblings Keith (Bonnie) Schmidt of Winsted, Larry (Linda) Schmidt of Tacoma, Wash., Bonnie (Doug) Morey of Olympia, Wash., Susan (Mike) Nordquist of Missoula, Mont., Sharon (Kevin) Twomey of Miami, Fla., Brad (Pat) Schmidt of Casa Grande, Ariz., Greg (Melinda) Schmidt of Wood Lake, and Julie (Ron) Schlenner of Clarkfield. In addition, he is survived by Rhoda's family Miriam (Larry) Schuler of Granite Falls, Jim (Pam) Laechelt of Eden Prairie, Rachel (Mark) Burgess of Madison Lake and many other relatives and friends. He also leaves behind his "kitty companions" Buddy, Millie and Toby. Tom was preceded in death by his parents LeRoy and Donna Schmidt, parents-in-law Wilfred and Clara Laechelt and grandson Caiden Schmidt in infancy. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent payable to Christ Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 166, Cottonwood, MN 56229. Arrangements with Sunset Funeral & Cremation Association, Echo, 507.925.4145. www.sunsetfuneralassociation.com