Evelyn J. Schmidt
Evelyn June (Bergelin) Schmidt, a resident at Century Ridge Assisted Living Facility in Chilton, WI, for the past year, was peacefully called to her heavenly home to be with her Lord and Savior Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020. She was 90 years old.
Evelyn was born on June 7, 1930 to the late Albert and Hertha (Harder) Bergelin in the rural Chilton area. She was the middle daughter of 5 girls and always felt that she was a maverick or her father’s ‘tomboy’ as she was too young for her older sisters and too old for her younger sisters! When 16, she drove into Chilton in the old car to get her driver’s license and the instructor told her, “If you can drive this far, you can have a license!” On her birthday, June 7, 1952, she married the love of her life, Merlin (Buddy) Schmidt at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. She worked beside her husband on their farm in rural Chilton until his death on Dec. 7, 1994. They were married for 42 years. She then moved to Chilton.
Evelyn was a lifelong, faithful member of Trinity Lutheran Church and Ladies Aid past president. She was very active in the mixed choir, in her ‘Sister Trio’ and as a soprano soloist. Her love for music was amazing and she certainly has passed that love to all of her children and grandchildren!
Evelyn was a stylish dresser and an accomplished seamstress who made many of her and her daughters’ dresses as well as many bridesmaid and flower girl dresses. She loved to crochet, was a phenomenal cook, baker and home decorator. Her biggest love, though, were her gardens…she took great pleasure and pride in caring for her beautiful flowers! She enjoyed bowling in both the couples and women’s leagues in Chilton and Collins. She enjoyed an afternoon of fishing in the creek as a girl and at the Forks with her family, trusty cane pole in hand, which led to cleaning endless bullheads and northern pike! (I wonder who inherited that trait!) She was an avid radio fan of the Badgers, Packers and Brewers as she worked on her crossword puzzles or played a little solitaire. She possessed an amazing love for history and reading and was very sad to relinquish books due to her failing eyesight. She loved to hear of her grandchildren’s and great-granddaughters’ accomplishments and often commented she wished they weren’t so far away!
Evelyn is survived by her four children: Russell (Cheryl) Schmidt, Chilton, Lois (Joseph) McGrath, Waupaca, David (Dawn) Schmidt, Chilton and Jacqueline Bouchard, Neenah; 10 grandchildren: JT McGrath, Roswell, NM, Stephen (Heather) McGrath, Lawrence, MA, Lisa (Daniel) Berger, Chaska, MN, Dylan Schmidt and special friend Shelby, Stockbridge, Jeremy Bouchard and special friend Dana, Chilton, Dayna Schmidt, Austin, TX, Jordan Bouchard, Justin (Abby) Bouchard, Neenah; 3 step grandchildren: Donnie (James) Martin, Temple, TX, Andrea ( Paul) Mahlik, Weber Falls, OK, Cody Nix and special friend Angela, Chilton; 5 great- granddaughters: Evalise Bouchard, Raelynn Berger, Tessa McGrath, Eleanor Bouchard, Noelle McGrath and one on the way!; 5 step-great grandchildren: Sidney, Gracey and Alex, Francis and Lenor Mahlik; sister: Florence Lemke; brother-in-law: Eugene Mertz; as well as many wonderful nieces and nephews.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Buddy; her parents: Albert and Hertha (Harder) Bergelin; parents-in-law: Albert and Clara (Lau) Schmidt; a grandson: Jameson McGrath; sisters: Irene (Harold) Duchow, Alice ( Donald) Bowers, Dorothy Mertz; in-laws: William Lemke, Gordon and Lilly Schmidt, Edwin and Mabel Gruett, Eldor and Hazel Piepenburg, and Robert Schmidt.
Evelyn’s family would like to express their special thanks to Lisa Schabach, APNP, the Drs and staff at Ascension Calumet Hospital and Wound Clinic, Calumet County Hospice staff, Pastor Brett Simek, Wieting Funeral Home and to the staff of Century Ridge who cared for our dear mother during this very trying and frustrating time of Covid19 restrictions. We truly treasured the precious time we had with our mom, though it was far too little…
…Heaven has gained a beautiful new soprano angel!
Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 2 pm with visitation from 12:00pm until 2:00pm at Triniity Lutheran Church (N6080 W River Rd), in Rantoul, WI.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been set up in the name of Evelyn Schmidt.