Florian "Blondie" Schmidt

Florian ”Blondie” Louis Schmidt, age 96, passed away peacefully of natural causes at his home on January 2, 2021.  He was born on June 4, 1924 to the late Julius and Catherine Schmidt.  Florian was united in marriage to Donna Beedle on May 10, 1947 in Iowa City, Iowa. Together they were blessed with one son, Mark.

Blondie served in World War II as a Navy Machinist Mate Second Class on the USS Auxiliary Repair Dock 18.  After his honorable discharge Blondie was appointed Sherwood Post Master for 37 years.  He was instrumental in converting the Sherwood Township to the Village of Sherwood in his role as the Village Clerk for 10 years.  He was a proud member of the American Legion Post 496 for 70 years including his term as Adjutant.  He was one of the original owners and developers of the Sherwood Forest Golf Course.  He was also a lifetime member of St. John-Sacred Heart Church in Sherwood.

Blondie spent many happy years at the cabin he built on Swamp Lake with family and friends.  He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed golfing, hunting and sturgeon spearing. Blondie had many hobbies and enjoyed tinkering with anything mechanical.

He set a great example of how to preserve resources to save our earth for future generations. He was a friend to all, a great storyteller and enjoyed life to the fullest.  Blondie’s determination to live a full an active life persisted until his final days.

Blondie is survived by his sister Lorraine Rehfeldt, sisters-in-law Aggie Smarzinski and Jackie Schmidt, nieces and nephews Carol Ann Goeden (Ed), Kay Bellile (Lewie), Joan Terrell (Doug), Mary Jo Sullivan (Tim), Susan Crosby (Chris), Barb Mauthe (Larry), Jeff Schmidt (Donna), Adelle Stein, Steve Jacob (Jean), Karen Byer (Rodger), Gary Jacob (Pat), Glen Jacob, Bob Jacob,  David Rehfeldt (Marge), Jean Polenz (Erwin), Laura Michener (Jim), Jim Rehfeldt, Lisa Portelli (Lenny), Mary Kay Carr, (Joe), Holly Schmidt and Heather Stevens (Sy). He is further survived by many great-nieces, great-nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years Donna, beloved son Mark, parents Julius and Catherine Schmidt, in-laws Lowell and Edith Beedle, siblings George Schmidt (Vita), Marian Schmidt (Art), Julius Schmidt (Eve), Leander Schmidt, Madella Jacob (Steve), Paul Schmidt, brothers-in-law Ewald Rehfeldt and Wallace Beedle (Lois).

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated for Blondie at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at St. John – Sacred Heart Catholic Church, N369 Military Rd., Sherwood.  A visitation will be held from 9:30 A.M. at the church until the time of the service. Covid protocols will be in effect, masks with social distancing will be required. A recording of the Funeral Mass will be available at wichmannfuneralhomes.com through Blondie’s obituary page.

A special thanks to Blondie’s best friend Paul Sturm his wife Kathy, friends Dale and Martha Albers, goddaughter Jean and her husband Erwin Polenz, niece Kay and her husband Lewie Bellile for all their help and support.