James Schmidt, 76, Fergus Falls, MN

James C. “Jim” Schmidt, 76, of Fergus Falls, died peacefully surrounded by family Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008, at his home in Fergus Falls with the support of hospice.

He was born Aug. 18, 1931, in Neosho, Mo., the only child of George and Edna Gladys (Greathouse) Schmidt. His early years were spent in Washington Courthouse, Ohio. The family moved to Wadena when he was in the fifth grade.

After graduating high school in Wadena in 1948, he attended the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis, graduating at 20 years of age in 1952.

On July 19, 1952, he married Joean Bernauer in Wadena. They moved to Minneapolis where he was employed by the truck division of the International Harvester Company, transferring to Eau Claire, Wis., Willmar and St. Cloud. In 1955, he bought the Chevrolet dealership in Elbow Lake. Three daughters, Susan, Cindy, and Jami were soon part of the family. They were very special to him. He spent many happy years in Elbow Lake as he was always the “go to” person if you wanted a hunting or fishing buddy. Jim lived life at full throttle.

His father becoming handicapped when Jim was in seventh grade may have influenced his love of life. Jim’s diagnosis of diabetes in his late 30s only served to strengthen this resolve. This was an inspiration for his children and grandchildren and has yielded many very animated and joyous, albeit somewhat noisy, family gatherings and celebrations.

His many interests in life included golfing, trapshooting, raising quarter horses, his black lab dogs and flying his seaplane, the Canadian Cruiser, but mostly fishing and hunting. The joy of his life was flying or boating to Pleasure Island, a remote fishing camp in Ontario owned by him and his flying buddies.

In 1969, the family moved to Fergus Falls and Jim went to work for the Minnesota Motor Company. In the early 1980s, he opened a used car lot (Jim Schmidt Motors) on Pebble Lake Road which he operated until he retired.

He was a member of Federated Church, the Elks and Ducks Unlimited.

Preceding him in death were his parents.

Survivors include his beloved wife, Joean; three daughters, Susan (Charles) Miller of Casper, Wyo., Cindy (Jay) McDougall of Fergus Falls, and Jami (Mike) McRoberts of Pickerel Lake; seven grandchildren, Meadow (Vinnie) Forget, Noah (Cindy) Miller, McKenzie (Tony) Wachlarowicz, Max and Molly McDougall, and Myria and Riley McRoberts; and seven great-grandchildren, Christian, Tyler, Gerald, Matt, Jon, Jonathan and Jackson; Joean’s sisters and brothers, Marilyn Morstad and the late David Morstad, Sally and Warren Gaslin, John and Marcia Bernauer, and David and Mary Bernauer.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Federated Church, Lakeland Hospice, or the donor’s choosing.

Visitation with family: Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m., at the church

Memorial Service: 2 p.m. Thursday at Federated Church, Fergus Falls

Clergy: Rev. Doug Dent

Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls

Condolences: www.olsonfuneralhome.com