Aksel Schmidt

1928 - 2021

Aksel Schmidt
May 30, 1928 - February 10, 2021
Resident of Alamo, CA
Aksel Schmidt, 92, of Alamo, CA passed away on February 10, 2021 after a long illness with Dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Aksel was born May 30, 1928 in Omaha Nebraska to parents, Martin and Albertina Schmidt who emigrated through Ellis Island from Copenhagen, Denmark.
Aks graduated from North High School in 1947. He went on to get a Bachelor of Science degree in Education at The University of Omaha where he was the student body president and a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
Aks loved all things sports. He played football, basketball, baseball, ice hockey and played running back for the University of Omaha in Nebraska.
Aksel met Rae Johnson in the early 1950's while playing outdoor ice hockey where Rae and her girlfriends were seeking to share ice time with the young hockey players. Aks was not too excited at the time about Rae interrupting his game with his buddies.
Aks joined the Navy after graduating from UNO and was stationed at Treasure Island in the Bay Area where he fell in love with the California weather. Good news for Aksel, he suffered from seasickness and never had to get on a ship.
Aks returned to Omaha and married Rae Johnson in December of 1954 and then moved them both to the Peninsula where Aks began a long and successful career as both a sales man and branch manager for IBM.
Aksel and Rae raised two children, Diane Baker (Scott) and David Schmidt (Kathy) in Alamo where Aks and Rae built a home in 1970. Aks is predeceased by his brother, Carl Schmidt, his sister, Evelyn Ruckl, and his wife Rae (July, 2003).
Aks coached the Thunderbirds which was the local Pop Warner football team in addition to the Yankees in Babe Ruth baseball. Aks also kept up his coaching after his kids were raised by coaching the San Ramon Valley High School alumni basketball team which would return each year to take on the SRVHS Varsity on the eve of Thanksgiving.
Aks and Rae were member of the San Ramon Valley Methodist Church and developed numerous friendships along the way. To say that Aksel was a "character" is an understatement. He was a fierce competitor but loved to talk to all people young and old. He and Rae traveled extensively before Rae's passing and he absolutely loved to tease his grandkids in addition to all that knew him.
Aks loved Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and many others. He loved to hold babies. He loved to sing and he loved to dance. Some of our fondest memories with Aksel revolve around house boating on Lake Shasta, spending time at the Maui Marriott, hanging out at Club Volleyball tournaments, singing around the player piano, watching him light the Weber BBQ with a quart of lighter fluid and introducing himself in his later years to people he didn't know as Joe Montana in an effort to get a reaction. What a character!!
Aks is survived by not only by Diane, David and their spouses but five grandchildren: Shasta Burns (Joel), Travis Baker (Heather), Kelly Peters (Robby), John Schmidt and Anne Marie Schmidt in addition to five great grandchildren: Georgia, Carly, Raleigh, Cade and Willy.
Aksel had a great smile, a twinkle in his eye and impacted everyone he met. It is safe to say that he will not be forgotten. Due to Covid, a small memorial service remembering Aksel will be held at a later date. In lieu of donations, the next time you are dancing or sitting on a beach or holding a young child in your arms, think of Aksel.


View the online memorial for Aksel Schmidt