Gerhardt E. Schmidt

Gerhardt E. Schmidt, 96, of Nicollet, died Monday March 3rd at Mankato House Healthcare Center in Mankato. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 7th, 2008 at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church in Nicollet. Interment will be in the Trinity Ev. Lutheran Cemetery. Rev. Ron Siemers will officiate the service.Visitation will be held Thursday, March 6th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in Nicollet. Visitation will continue on Friday for one hour prior to the time of service at the church.Gerhardt Edwin Schmidt was born June 7, 1911 in Arlington, MN to Otto and Bertha (Schoen) Schmidt. He was baptized July 9, 1911, and confirmed on April 25, 1925 by Pastor R. Heidemann at St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Arlington. He graduated from Arlington High School in 1932. He was united in marriage to Esther Schulte on June 30, 1935 at the parsonage in Gaylord, MN. Gerhardt worked at the Arlington Theater as a projectionist. In 1927 he started working for H M Noack and Sons Produce Plant in Arlington, MN. Later he worked at Wolff’s Meat Market in Arlington, MN. In 1941 he went back to Noack’s and worked there until 1947. On June 13, 1947, Gerhardt and Esther bought a meat market in Nicollet, and thus began Schmidt’s Meat Market. They owned and operated Schmidt’s Meat Market until November 1975 when sons Bruce and Gary bought the business. Gerhardt took pride in the fact that the business was passed on to his sons and recently to his grandson, Ryan, thus becoming the 3rd generation owner. In earlier years, Gerhardt was a member of the Nicollet Booster Club, Nicollet Chamber of Commerce, Nicollet Conservation Club, Minnesota Association of Meat Processors, and the American Association of Meat Processors. He served on the Nicollet City Council for 21 years and the Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church council for a number of years.Gerhardt is survived by his wife of 72 years, Esther; two sons, Gary (Geri) Schmidt of North Mankato and Bruce (Betty) Schmidt of Nicollet; four grandchildren, Ryan (Lynnita) Schmidt of North Mankato, Cheryl (Nick) Davis of Burnsville, MN, Jeff Schmidt of Duluth, MN, and Tim Schmidt of San Francisco, CA; four great-grandchildren, Mia and Derek Davis and Carson and Tyler Schmidt; sister-in-law, Ruby Schmidt of Arlington, MN; and many nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents Otto and Bertha Schmidt, brothers, William, Arthur and Herbert and sisters Viola, Edna, Helen and Clara. Gerhardt was a tireless booster and promoter of Nicollet.In addition to his community he enjoyed his family, traveling, spending time at the cabin, hunting, and playing rummy with Esther. Gerhardt will be remembered for his positive attitude, his love of life, family and community.