Roger Schmidt

Roger W. Schmidt of Cary, NC passed away peacefully, with his wife by his side, on November 26, 2024 at age 78. Born May 24, 1946, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Roger's life was marked by service, athleticism, and love.

Roger was a man of many talents. At Ft. Dodge High, he received an All-American Honorable Mention distinction in football while also having a "breakout" role as The Conductor in the school's production of The Music Man. As a scholarship recipient at the University of South Dakota, he continued to excel in baseball and football, eventually earning a degree in Education.

Roger enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1969, and flew F-4 Phantoms as a Radar Intercept Officer in the Vietnam War. As a member of Task Force Delta, his bravery and skill earned him commendations including the Bronze Star, Air Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Vietnamese Service Medal. Roger's military career was further distinguished by his completion of the US Navy Fighter Weapons School, known as Top Gun, before retiring from the USMC Reserves as Lieutenant Colonel in 1988.

In the private sector, Roger pursued a successful career in sales, retiring in 2005. His integrity and dedication left a lasting impact on those he worked with.

Roger was an avid traveler who loved sharing adventures with his family. He was a proponent of the healing powers of vanilla ice cream and warm brownies. Roger's first order of business each day was always pouring a cup of coffee and turning on the radio. He loved oldies, and could often be found dancing anywhere from the kitchen in the house to a diner in Pigeon Forge. He found happiness in riding his motorcycle, spending an afternoon on the lake, or schooling everyone at Jeopardy. His greatest joy in life was being involved in the lives of his children and grandchildren. He will be deeply missed by his loved ones, but we can imagine him now enjoying a cigar and a cold beer on the beach in Cancun at sunset.

Roger is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Sheila; his son Ben and wife Ashley; his daughter Jenna; his son Michael and wife Danielle; and his grandchildren, Porter, Charlie, Camille, and Sammy dog. He is also survived by his brother Brian and wife Sue, sister Diane and husband Terry, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and longtime friends. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Willis and Nellie, and his sister Nancy.

A memorial service will be held at Macedonia United Methodist Church in Cary, NC on December 21st at 11:30am. He will be interred at Beaufort National Cemetery on February 14, 2025.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Transitions LifeCare.