Lucille I. Schmidt

Lucille Irene Schmidt, 81, of La Crosse, left her earthly life Thursday, March 8, 2012 at Mayo Clinic Health System, La Crosse.

 

She was born May 9, 1930 in La Crosse to Martin and Irene (Schams) Hess. Lucille grew up on the family farm in rural La Crosse County. She graduated from Aquinas High School in 1948. She was united in marriage to Herbert G. Schmidt on October 14, 1950.

 

Lucille worked at Saint Francis Hospital as a medical secretary for the chief pathologist. Later, after taking time off to raise her six children, she was employed by the diocese of La Crosse and retired from the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse.

 

Hobbies that Lucille enjoyed were poetry, reading, gardening, bird watching, traveling, knitting and baking her renowned apple pies, but more than anything, she enjoyed spending time with her family. She was a very caring person that was genuinely interested in getting to know everyone that she met. She provided a temporary home for un-wed mothers that fostered into lifelong friendships.  She opened her home to international students from UW-L as a foster grandparent and included them in holiday celebrations. She sponsored children from under-developed countries, becoming pen-pals with them.

 

Lucille was very involved in her church parish and school and the La Crosse community.

She was a Cub Scout leader, member of the Saint Thomas More social committee and card club.  She was a volunteer at Saint Francis Hospital, delivered Meals on Wheels to the home-bound and read stories to Head Start students. She was also a member of the Homemakers Association.

 

Survivors include her loving husband, Herb; five children: Cathy (Jim) Jambois of La Crosse,

 Tom (Gay Lynn) Schmidt of Genoa , Mary (Dan) Johnson of Winona, Joe (Nancy) Schmidt

 of La Crosse and Karen(John) Case of South Bend, Indiana; Eleven grandchildren:

 John (Becca) Jambois, Ann Jambois, David and Stephan Schmidt, Matthew, Michael and

 Jacob Johnson, Brian(Tracy) Johnston, Angela (Chad) Clark and Colleen and Scott Case.

 Four great grandchildren: Shelby and Charlotte Johnston and Morgan and Landon Clark

 and another great grandchild in the near future. Lucille is also survived by five brothers

 and sisters: Mary Ann (George) Rogers, Lois Hess (Jean Mollendorf), Ronald (Mary Rose)

 Hess, Beverly (Pat) Watson and Terry (Sandy) Hess; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

 

She was preceded in death by her son, Randy, an infant daughter, Laura; her parents, Martin and Irene Hess; brothers Daniel Hess, Paul Hess and infant brother Joseph Hess; a brother-in law, Walter Schmidt; Sister-in-laws: Judy Schmidt, Mary Ellen Schmidt and Dorothy Hess; and a niece, Julie Hess.

 

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 20, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1333 S. 13^th Street, La Crosse., Rev. Rick Roberts will officiate with entombment to be in the Catholic Cemetery Mausoleum. The family will greet family and friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday, March 19, at the Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home, 1501 West Avenue, La Crosse.  Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Riverside International Friendship Gardens or a memorial of your choice. Online condolences may be made at www.blaschkeschneider.com