Chuck Schmidt

Leonard Charles “Chuck” Schmidt was born June 22, 1931, to Otto Albert and Mabel Fern (Lynch) Schmidt in Holyoke. He was the third of four sons. He died and passed into eternal life June 29, 2017, in Haxtun.
    As a boy, he grew up on the family farm in the Wages community. He helped with the farming at a very young age, and it stuck with him. He was always a farmer at heart.
    He started his education at the Wages country school. He and his brother Bill would travel the 4 miles to school by pony cart.
    As fate would have it, Chuck met the love of his life, Minnie Lee Spellman, through his older brother Cliff, who was married to Minnie’s oldest sister, Dottie. Chuck and Minnie were married June 2, 1952, at the Paoli Methodist Church parsonage. They were married 65 years.
    Chuck entered the U.S. Army in November of 1952 and served in combat during the Korean conflict. He was honorably discharged in September of 1954. Upon his return, Chuck began farming again alongside his father. He and Minnie started a family, with Terry Allen being born in December of 1955 and Thomas Albert following in February 1957.
    In 1958, Chuck started on a new career path. He was involved in the construction at the grain elevators in Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma. He and his family moved from place to place, following the job. After settling in Kanorado, Kansas, Todd Andrew joined the family in July 1962. Then after a move to Burlington, Tamara Anne arrived in October 1964.
    Farming was always in his blood, and when the opportunity arose, he once again packed up his family and returned to a farm in the Wages community. This was home for 20 years.
    In 1986, Chuck and Minnie moved to Haxtun, and Chuck began a truck route for the Rocky Mountain News. He would drive to Denver at night, pick up the papers and make stops along the way for others to distribute papers throughout northeast Colorado. He did this for 10 years.
    Chuck loved to golf and spent many hours at the F & H Golf Course. He made a hole-in-one on the eighth hole June 9, 1999. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. Whenever possible, he and Minnie would load up the camper or boat, or both, and head to the mountains or lakes. Many fall days were spent in the hills hunting elk. Chuck especially enjoyed the Schmidt Rendezvous every July at Lake John. He loved spending the weekend with “just the boys”!
    Chuck and Minnie enjoyed several long trips on their Honda Goldwing. They traveled to California and rode up the Pacific Coast and into Washington state. Another time they went on a tour of Canada with biker buddies Don and Lois.
    In 2013, Chuck was able to take the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., with his good buddy Lester Weers. Chuck could play the accordion, and he entertained the kids and the grandkids for hours with his squeeze-box.
    Chuck was a man of God; his faith in the Lord was deep. He was a kind and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He had a fierce love for his family and loved them all unconditionally, especially the grandkids and great-grandkids. He was their protector and hero.
    Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Mabel; brothers, Otto Jr., Cliff and Bill; sister-in-law, Thelma Schmidt; and brother-in-law, Cleo Brown.
    He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Minnie; sons, Terry and wife Linda of Sterling, Tom of Julesburg, and Todd and wife Corinna of Sterling; daughter, Tammy of Haxtun; grandchildren, Kirk and wife Monika of Kimball, Nebraska, Rebecca and husband Tom Bean of Edgewood, Washington, Kacey and wife Marian of Wellington, Amber and friend Jamie Brinlee of Brush, Ben of Sterling, Trevor Gentz and wife Casi of Windsor, Tara Kinnamon and husband Steven of Meeker, and Tyler of Fort Collins; and great-grandchildren, Shane, Kenadee and Chloe Schmidt, Michael and Adam Bean, Sylas Perez, Phillip and Phaythe Meza, Phoenix and Phrost Kind, Daisy Schmidt, Triston, Sophia and Joselyn Gentz, and Killian Jo Kinnamon; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Dottie Schmidt, Carol Schmidt, George and Lois Spellman, Ralph and LeeAnn Spellman, Jennie Brown, Tom and Margaret Spellman, Bob and Patty Spellman, and Peggy Spellman; and many nieces and nephews and a host of lifelong friends.
    Funeral services were held July 3 at the Haxtun United Methodist Church, with Pastor Jeri Soens officiating. Interment was held in the Haxtun Cemetery.
    Memorials may be made to the F & H Golf Course or the Haxtun United Methodist Church.
    Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home in Wray was in charge of arrangements.