Donald P. Schmidt

Donald Peter Schmidt, age 82, of Lake Crystal, died Monday, December 7, 2020 at his home.

A Private family funeral service will be held at Zion Lutheran Church, Lake Crystal. Interment with military honors will be in Lake Crystal Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Mayo Clinic Hospice and Palliative Care – Mankato, Zion Lutheran Church, or Anoka Ducks Unlimited. Lake Crystal Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Donald was born September 17, 1938 to Ewald and Bertha (Mohlmann) Schmidt in Springfield, MN. He graduated from Springfield High School in 1956. Don served his country with the U.S. Navy from 1956-59. He was united in marriage to Byrene M. Nelson on July 2, 1960 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Mankato. Don worked for Midwest Electric for several years and then Sears in Mankato for 29 years, before retiring in 1997. He worked for Dale Schmidt Construction Inc. from 2002-07. Don was a member of Zion Lutheran Church where he served on the property board. He volunteered as an assistant Scout Master with the Boy Scouts of America. Don enjoyed spending time with his family and spending time at the cabin, especially the “family” vacations at the cabin. He enjoyed hunting, especially deer hunting with his son’s Tim and Dale, fishing, and reading. He did wood working and liked to carve different things from wood.

Don is survived by his wife, Byrene of Lake Crystal; two sons, Tim (Laurie) Schmidt of Shoreview and Dale Schmidt of Lake Crystal; one daughter, Debra (Dr. Rick) Lazarte of Corpus Christi, TX; four granddaughters, Krista Schmidt, Brianna Schmidt, Caylin (Donovan) Cedergren, and Tiffany Schmidt (Bryant Roelofs); two great-grandsons, Brayden Michael Schmidt and William Dean Cedergren; two great-granddaughters, Rylie Emmaline Cedergren and Hazel Ann Schmidt; three sisters-in-law, Gail Schmidt of Sanford, FL, Dorothy Barnick of Lake Crystal, and Evelyn Kluender of Bricelyn; nieces and nephews.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Irene Koenig; brother, Fred Schmidt; two half-brothers, Alvin and Richard Schmidt; half-sister, Bonnie Carnell; a special daughter-in-law, Paula Willis Schmidt; two brothers-in-law, David Kluender and Harold Barnick.