Henry "Hank" G. Schmidt

Henry G. "Hank" Schmidt, 84, of Ottawa, passed away Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at his home following a brief struggle with pancreatic cancer.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 pm on Monday, October 2 at Ottawa Funeral Home & Crematory, with prayers at 3:45. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am Tuesday, October 3 at St. Columba Church with Rev. David Kipfer officiating and Rev. Kevin Flaherty, S.J. concelebrating. Pallbearers will be grandsons Johnny Holt, Cody Renkosik, and Haydon and Brian Price and nephews Peter Fabrizius and Dan Sanderson. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Hank was born November 17, 1932 in Ottawa as the oldest son to Richard P. and Alice (McCormack) Schmidt. He married Mary Ann O'Neill on January 2, 1954 at St. Columba Church.

He was a proud graduate of Dayton Public Grade School and Marquette High School, class of 1950. He was a lifelong LaSalle County livestock and grain farmer.

He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Mary Ann of Ottawa; sons Michael (Vicky) and Joseph (Nathalie) Schmidt, both of Ottawa; daughters Susan (Brian Slover) Renkosik and Amy (Ron Saxton) Price, both of Ottawa, and Peggy (Ken) Gomoll of Crystal Lake; grandchildren Lauren (Johnny) Holt, Casey (Richard) Killion, Jessica Renkosik, Cody (Chanel) Renkosik, Kristen, Ashleigh, and Kasey Gomoll, Caroline and Anna Schmidt, and Taylor, Haydon, and Brian Price; great-grandchildren Reece Holt, Tyler, Lennox, and Crosby Renkosik, and Kennedy Scull, and Vada Barchard; as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother-in-law Ruth and Nick Fabrizius, brother and sister-in-law John and Carol Schmidt, brother Rev. Carl R. Schmidt, S.J., and sisters Janet Schmidt and Elizabeth Holt.

Hank served on the Wallace Grade School Board of Education for nearly 25 years, many of them as president. He was twice a recipient of the Excellence in Education Award. He was a charter member of the Ottawa FFA Alumni and a former member of the Ottawa Milk Producers. He was a member of the Farm Bureau, Ottawa Moose Lodge, Ottawa Knights of Columbus Starved Rock Council 634, Oglesby Elks, NRA, LaSalle County Republicans Century Club, and Jesuit Companions. He enjoyed his mornings with the Liars Club at the Hi Way restaurant. He was a staunch supporter of the Carlos Schmidt, S.J. C.E. "Fe Y ALGERIA" No. 50 school in Ayacucho, Peru as well as Jesuit mission work.

Memorials may be directed to the Midwest Jesuits, 2050 N. Clark Street, Chicago IL 60614, mass cards, or the donor's choice.