Some things dad enjoyed most were homemade apple pie, seeing the Big Boy Steam Locomotive, and the need for speed. In his younger years, he raced go-karts. Then he transitioned to racing speedboats. He and his son once owned a Superformance Cobra with a 427 engine. It was a special honor for him to meet Carroll Shelby.
It was always his dream to build his car. It was an obsession and was always in his mind. Despite everyday life's setbacks, along with failing eyesight and decreasing mobility, he persisted in his dream to finish the car.
He is survived by his daughter Kathie (Mike) George of Kettering, Ohio. Kimbria (Steve) Borneman of Yorkville, Kristi (Marty) Schwartz of Yorkville; Karen (Jerry) Bickle of Columbia City, Indiana, and his son William "Billy" (Tammy) Schmidt of Sheridan, Illinois; his grandchildren, Sara George, Jackie (Ryan) Pizinger, Bob Borneman, Jamie (Matt) Cox, Mallory (Brad) Monkemeyer, Katie (Jeff) Findlay, Marci (Ben) Kulbartz, Andy (Claire) Schwartz, Bob Schwartz, Jared, Jessica, and Jordan Bickle, William "Zeke" (Melissa) Schmidt, Miranda (Mike) Considine, Melissa, and Mitchel Schmidt: his 18 great-grandchildren, and his much-loved brother Jerry (Dee) Schmidt; and his nephews Jerry (Carrie) Schmidt and Joe (Becky) Schmidt.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Katie, their infant daughter Kelly: his parents, and an infant great-granddaughter Teagan Cox.
A special thank you to the following devoted friends-his lifelong loyal friend Cecil Piggott, Craig Leifheit, The "Gearheads" (Mike, Joe, Roger, Rick E., Tebo, Rick B.), the Mulligan family, Jill Nichols, Yolanda Campbell, friends at Twin Ponds Fishing Club (especially Kirby Waalen), everyone at O'Malley's Welding Shop, and a special thanks to his caregiver, Judy McCoy, and Pastor Grieves.
Visitation will be held at Cross Lutheran Church 8609 IL-47, Yorkville, from 4-8 on April 4th. The funeral service will be at 11:00 on April 5th, with visitation 1 hour prior. Memorials may be made to Carroll Shelby Foundation at shelby.com or Cross Lutheran Church
Some things dad enjoyed most were homemade apple pie, seeing the Big Boy Steam Locomotive, and the need for speed. In his younger years, he raced go-karts. Then he transitioned to racing speedboats. He and his son once owned a Superformance Cobra with a 427 engine. It was a special honor for him to meet Carroll Shelby.
It was always his dream to build his car. It was an obsession and was always in his mind. Despite everyday life's setbacks, along with failing eyesight and decreasing mobility, he persisted in his dream to finish the car.
He is survived by his daughter Kathie (Mike) George of Kettering, Ohio. Kimbria (Steve) Borneman of Yorkville, Kristi (Marty) Schwartz of Yorkville; Karen (Jerry) Bickle of Columbia City, Indiana, and his son William "Billy" (Tammy) Schmidt of Sheridan, Illinois; his grandchildren, Sara George, Jackie (Ryan) Pizinger, Bob Borneman, Jamie (Matt) Cox, Mallory (Brad) Monkemeyer, Katie (Jeff) Findlay, Marci (Ben) Kulbartz, Andy (Claire) Schwartz, Bob Schwartz, Jared, Jessica, and Jordan Bickle, William "Zeke" (Melissa) Schmidt, Miranda (Mike) Considine, Melissa, and Mitchel Schmidt: his 18 great-grandchildren, and his much-loved brother Jerry (Dee) Schmidt; and his nephews Jerry (Carrie) Schmidt and Joe (Becky) Schmidt.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Katie, their infant daughter Kelly: his parents, and an infant great-granddaughter Teagan Cox.
A special thank you to the following devoted friends-his lifelong loyal friend Cecil Piggott, Craig Leifheit, The "Gearheads" (Mike, Joe, Roger, Rick E., Tebo, Rick B.), the Mulligan family, Jill Nichols, Yolanda Campbell, friends at Twin Ponds Fishing Club (especially Kirby Waalen), everyone at O'Malley's Welding Shop, and a special thanks to his caregiver, Judy McCoy, and Pastor Grieves.
Visitation will be held at Cross Lutheran Church 8609 IL-47, Yorkville, from 4-8 on April 4th. The funeral service will be at 11:00 on April 5th, with visitation 1 hour prior. Memorials may be made to Carroll Shelby Foundation at shelby.com or Cross Lutheran Church
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