William Phillip Schmidt Jr.

As friends and family members would certainly agree, William Schmidt Jr. truly understood the secret to a life well lived. He was a constant source of strength and resilience, even in the most difficult of times. Nothing brought Bill greater joy than surrounding himself with his loved ones. He never took a single moment for granted, and he was always willing to go above and beyond to serve those around him. Dearly loved, Bill will be forever missed by all who knew him best.

The early 1940s are remembered as a tumultuous time for the United States and the rest of the globe as WWII raged on. Countless brave servicemen were called to serve away from home, and those who remained stateside worked to support the war effort in whatever ways they could. During these dark years, there was a ray of light for William Phillip Schmidt Sr. and Angela Marie Schmidt of Chicago, Illinois, as they awaited the arrival of their first child. On March 4, 1942, William Philip Schmidt Jr. made his entrance into the world.

Throughout his childhood, Bill was a typical young man of his generation in many ways. He was raised in the family home in Mt. Prospect and Arlington Heights, Illinois. Bill’s father, William Sr., was an accountant, and his mother, Angela, worked for Pure Oil. At a young age, Bill discovered a love for trains, and he had a prized 0-gauge Lionel Train set. One of his fondest memories was taking a trip with his parents around the coast of Lake Michigan and riding the ferry before the Mackinac Bridge was built. Bill was a talented accordion player, and he used to take the train into Chicago to play.

Bill attended local schools, including St. Norberts High School in DePere, Wisconsin. He loved studying history and playing football throughout his time in high school. Bill graduated in 1960, then went on to attend Marquette University. After his father passed away unexpectedly, however, he returned home to help his mother through their grief. Bill took a job at Paddock Publishing in 1961, eager to see what the future held for him.

For Bill, his career was so much more than a job. In 1969, he followed his calling to become a firefighter with the Rolling Meadow Fire Department in Illinois. Bill took great pride in his service to his community, and he loved bonding with his comrades and department. He was so devoted to saving lives that he completed paramedic training in 1973 in order to provide even more care to those in need. Bill’s hardworking nature and genuine dedication to the wellbeing of his community allowed him to continue learning and advancing in the ranks. He was promoted often and even became a captain before leaving in 1993 to become the fire chief in Walker, Michigan. Bill was a very respected chief during his seventeen years of service in Walker. Even after he retired from the fire department, he wanted to continue helping the public. Bill became the director of operation for many FEMA disaster responses, including Hurricane Sandy, Puerto Rico, and fires in California. His career allowed him to spend many decades as a servant to his community.

In 1981, Bill was fortunate enough to meet the love of his life. Her name was Sandra, and the two were first introduced through mutual friends at a Christmas party. There was an instant spark between them, and it didn’t take them long to realize they were meant to spend the rest of their lives together. Bill proposed to Sandy in the spring, and they were united in marriage at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Lake Zurich, Illinois on October 10, 1982. Over the next 42 years of marriage, both Bill and Sandy would demonstrate time and time again their unmistakable love and devotion to one another.

Of all the things Bill loved in life, he treasured his family above all else. He was overjoyed to welcome his two sons, William III and David, into his heart and home. Bill thrived in his role as a father, and he always did whatever was needed to provide for his boys, even if that meant working side jobs as an electrician. He supported William and David in all of their activities and cherished their quality time together. Bill’s marriage to Sandy also made him a father to her daughter, Rachel, and they were so happy to bring their daughter, Whitney, into their world. Bill’s children were his pride and joy, and he always had good advice or something encouraging to say. Later in life, he was thrilled to become Grandpa and “Ampa” to his eight beloved grandchildren. Bill considered himself blessed to watch his family grow to include so many loved ones.

Never one to sit still for long, Bill pursued many hobbies to stay busy in his free time. He was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Cubs. Bill was known for his organization skills and his well-planned lists. Over the years, the Schmidt family enjoyed many vacations to the cabin in Northern Wisconsin, memorable trips to Disney World in Florida, and a two-week trip out West. Bill enjoyed bowling, golfing, and tending to his vegetable gardens. He treasured his memories of fishing trips with friends to remote areas of Red Lake in Eastern Ontario.

When reflecting on the life of William Schmidt Jr., it is easy to see both his unwavering strength and his unconditional love for his family. He faced challenges head-on with a spirit of fierce determination, and his selfless heart allowed him to impact the lives of countless others. Though he will be deeply missed, Bill leaves behind a priceless legacy that his loved ones will be proud to carry on in his footsteps.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of William Phillip Schmidt Jr., on Wednesday December 4th, 2024, at the age of 82. Bill was born on March 4th, 1942 to William Phillip Schmidt Sr. & Angela Marie Schmidt in Chicago, Illinois.

Dad was known for his dedication to the fire service, and the impact he made both in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, but here in Walker, Michigan as well. After retiring from 43 years in the fire service, he dedicated much of his time to FEMA as Director of Operations. He not only was a devout man to his career, but also his family and friends. This guy knew no stranger. He was loved by all.

Dad spent years going on his trips to Canada with his buddies fishing on the lake, was a loyal fan of the Chicago Cubs and Green Bay Packers, and known for enjoying a Manhattan, or two. It was never a dull moment when he would tell you the same joke for the tenth time, and laughed so hard he cried.

Bill is survived by his wife, Sandra Schmidt; his children Billy (Kristine) Schmidt, David (Christine) Schmidt, Rachel (Justin) Abbott, and Whitney (Todd) Trask. As well as his eight grandchildren.

While our hearts mourn the loss, we take comfort in knowing he is no longer suffering, and he will live in our hearts forever.

Friends may visit with family on Thursday, December 12th from 3-8 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes, Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW where a vigil and sharing of memories will take place at 7:30 PM. Friends may also visit at church beginning at 10 AM Friday. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, December 13, 2024 at 11 AM at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1200 Alpine Church Rd NW.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to West Michigan Hospice( WestMichiganHospice.com).