Ralph R. Schmidt

Ralph Rudolph Schmidt, 91, of Antigo passed away Monday, May 30, 2011, in Beloit, WI.Born Nov. 6, 1919, in Polar, son of the late Rudolph Johann "Rudy" and Regina Marie "Mary" (Wagner) Schmidt Sr. On Dec. 17, 1947, he married Margaret Marie "Peg" Crawford in Antigo. They lived in the Antigo area, moving to Milledgeville, IL, where they resided for 23 years, before moving back and retiring in Antigo. Ralph worked for Kraft Foods Inc. for 34 years, retiring in 1987.Ralph was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, serving in China-Burma-India. He was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church, Antigo, where he was a past council member and treasurer, and former member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Milledgeville. Ralph was a former Boy Scout Leader. He was a lifetime member of the Disabled Veterans and former member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainman, Rotary Club and the Lutherans Men\'s Club. Ralph graduated from Antigo High School class of 1942. He was the only child from his family to graduate from high school. He attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison.Survivors include daughters, Gail (Ray) Perkins, Edgerton, WI, Judy (Kevin) Van Zuiden, South Beloit, IL; sons, Gary (Cindy) Schmidt, Two Rivers, WI, and Joel (Larry Hernandez) Schmidt of Fremont, CA; grandchildren, Rebecca Van Zuiden, Naomi (Jason) Vreeland, Kami Perkins, Jamie (Skye) Perkins, Christine (Marino) Pelaez, Timothy (Katie) Schmidt, Andrew (Alyssa) Schmidt and Elizabeth Schmidt; great-grandchildren, Connor and Alexandra Schmidt, Ana Peduk, Lindsay Pelaez-Schmidt and Audrey Vreeland; and sisters, Violet Samolinski and Phyllis Blatecky.In addition to his wife and parents, a granddaughter, Rachel Van Zuiden, infant brother, infant twin brothers, two additional brothers, an infant sister, and two additional sisters predeceased him.Funeral services will be Saturday, June 4, at 11:00 a.m. at Strasser-Roller Funeral Home, 504 Edison Street, Antigo, WI. Visitation is Friday, June 3, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Strasser-Roller Funeral Home and from 10:00 a.m. on Saturday prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery. Local veterans will perform military honors at the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Never Forgotten Honor Flight or Lake Metonga Association. Special thanks to Premier Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing in Beloit for their care and support and to Delehanty Funeral Home Ltd., Loves Park, IL, for their assistance.