Phyllis J. Schmidt, age 83, of Merrill, died March 20, 2013, surrounded by her family at Bell Tower Residence, Merrill.
Phyllis was born April 30, 1929, in Merrill, daughter of the late Rudolph and Florinda (Sabatke) Kleinschmidt. She married Arthur Schmidt on September 15, 1945. He survives. Phyllis was a member of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Merrill. She enjoyed bird watching, gardening, cooking, fishing and camping trips, pontoon boat rides, making silk flower arrangements, and taking care of everyone.
Survivors include her husband of over 67 years, Arthur Schmidt, of Merrill; 4 daughters, Polly (Jody) Malik, of Capitola, CA, Patricia (Jeff) Reynolds, of Tony, WI, Brenda Lueken, of Owatonna, MN, and Michelle (Rick) Allman, of Merrill; 8 sons, Dennis (VerJean) Schmidt, of Merrill, Michael (Sue) Schmidt, of Chetek, WI, Gerald (Linda) Schmidt, of Michigan City, IN, Stephen Schmidt, of Wausau, Randy (Peggie) Schmidt, of Elk Mound, WI, Thomas (Sally) Schmidt, of Merrill, Richard (Roxann) Schmidt, of Wausau, and Kevin (Lisa) Schmidt, of Merrill; 38 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; 1 sister, Darlene (Orville) Schult, of Merrill; 2 brothers, Wayne (Judy) Kleinschmidt and Gene (DeEtta) Kleinschmidt, both of Merrill; 2 sisters-in-law, Totsy Kleinschmidt and Velma ‘Diddy’ Kleinschmidt, both of Merrill; and many nieces and nephews. Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Karen Schmidt; two grandsons, Shane Schmidt and Collin Schultz; and three siblings, Joyce (Leslie) Weber, Vernon Kleinschmidt, and Elroy ‘Bud’ Kleinschmidt.
The funeral will be at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, March 23, 2013, at Holy Cross Chapel at Bell Tower Residence, Merrill. Rev. James Weiland will officiate. Burial will follow in St. Paul’s Cemetery, Town of Scott, Lincoln County. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Friday at the Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill, and after 9:30 A.M. Saturday at Holy Cross Chapel at Bell Tower Residence.
Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com