Leonard Charles "Chuck" Schmidt

Leonard Charles “Chuck” Schmidt was born June 22, 1931 to Otto Albert & Mabel Fern (Lynch) Schmidt in Holyoke, Colorado. He was the third of four sons. He passed into eternal life on June 29, 2017 in Haxtun, Colorado.

As a boy, he grew up on the family farm in the Wages community. He helped with the farming at a very young age and it stuck with him. He was always a farmer at heart.

He started his education at the Wages country school. He and his brother, Bill would travel the four miles to school by pony cart.

As fate would have it, Chuck met the love of his life, Minnie Lee Spellman through his older brother, Cliff who was married to Minnie’s oldest sister, Dottie. Chuck and Minnie were married June 2, 1952 at the Paoli Methodist Church parsonage. They were married 65 years.

Chuck entered the U.S. Army in November of 1952 and served in combat during the Korean Conflict. He was Honorable Discharged in September of 1954. Upon his return, Chuck began farming again alongside his father. He and Minnie started a family with Terry Allen being born in December of 1955 and Thomas Albert followed shortly in February 1957.

In 1958, Chuck started on a new career path. He was involved in the construction at the grain elevators in Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma. He and his family moved from place to place following the job. After settling in Kanorado, Kansas, Todd Andrew joined the family in July 1962.

Then after a move to Burlington, Tamara Anne arrived in October 1964. Farming was always in his blood and when the opportunity arose, he once again packed up his family and returned to a farm in the Wages Community. This was home for twenty years.

In 1986, Chuck and Minnie moved to Haxtun and Chuck began a truck route for the Rocky Mountain News. He would drive to Denver at night, pick up the papers, and make stops along the way for others to distribute papers throughout Northeast Colorado. He did this for ten years.

Chuck loved to golf and spent many hours at the F & H Golf Course. He made a “Hole in One” on the 8 ^th hold on June 9, 1999. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. Whenever possible, he and Minnie would load up the camper or boat or both and head to the mountains or lakes. Many fall days were spent in the hills hunting elk. Chuck especially enjoyed the Schmidt Rendezvous every July at Lake John. He loved spending the weekend with “just the boys!”

Chuck and Minnie enjoyed several long trips on their Honda Goldwing. They traveled to California and road up the Pacific Coast and into Washington State. Another time they went on a tour of Canada with biker buddies, Don and Lois.

In 2013, Chuck was able to take the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. with his good buddy, Lester Weers. Chuck could play the accordion. He entertained the kids and the grandkids for hours with his squeeze box. Chuck was a man of God; his faith in the Lord was deep. He was a kind and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He had a fierce love for his family and loved them all unconditionally, especially the grandkids and great-grandkids. He was their protector and hero.

Chuck is preceded by his parents, Otto and Mabel; brothers, Otto, Jr., Cliff, and Bill; sister-in-law, Thelma Schmidt; and brother-in-law, Cleo Brown.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Minnie; sons, Terry and wife, Linda of Sterling, CO; Tom of Julesburg, CO; Todd and wife, Corinna of Sterling, CO; and daughter, Tammy of Haxtun, CO; grandchildren; Kirk and wife, Monika; Kimball, NE; Rebecca and husband, Tom Bean of Edgewood, WA; Kacey and wife Marian of Wellington, CO; Amber and friend, Jamie Brinlee of Brush, CO; Ben of Sterling, CO; Trevor Gentz and wife, Casi of Windsor, CO; Tara Kinnamon and husband, Steven of Meeker, CO; Tyler of Ft. Collins, CO; and great-grandchildren; Shane, Kenadee and Chloe Schmidt; Michael and Adam Bean, Sylas Perez, Phillip and Phaythe Meza; Phoenix and Phrost Kind; Daisy Schmidt; Triston, Sophia and Joselyn Gentz, and Killian Jo Kinnamon. He is also survived by brothers-in-law and sisters-in-laws; Dottie Schmidt; Carol Schmidt; George and Lois Spellman; Ralph and LeeAnn Spellman; Jennie Brown; Tom and Margaret Spellman; Bob and Patty Spellman; Peggy Spellman and many nieces, nephews and a host of lifelong friends.

Funeral services were held Monday, July 3, 2017, 10:00 a.m. at the Haxtun United Methodist Church in Haxtun, Colorado with Pastor Jeri Soens officiating. Interment was held in the Haxtun Cemetery in Haxtun, Colorado. Memorials may be made to the F & H Golf Course or the Haxtun United Methodist Church. Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.