Jeffrey Mark Schmid, 65, of Sleepy Eye, died on Aug. 17, 2021, at Sleepy Eye Care Center.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021 at the Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel and will continue on Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Sleepy Eye.
Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Sleepy Eye. Interment will be in Home Cemetery in Sleepy Eye.
Jeffrey Mark Schmid, “Schmidy”, was called home August 17, 2021 at the Sleepy Eye Care Center. He was born on March 30, 1956 in New Ulm, Minnesota to Ethelbert and Neoma (Wegner) Schmid. He grew up in Home Township, Sleepy Eye, MN.
He started his education at the District 185 Brown County Elementary School, then attended St. John’s Lutheran School, Sleepy Eye and graduated in 1974 from Sleepy Eye Public High School. After high school, Jeff worked for his father on the farm and worked as a sub-contractor through Overson Lumber-St. James putting up pole/machine sheds. When his father retired in 1982, he took over the farm. While farming he farrow to finish pigs, milked cows and crop farmed.
On August 13, 1977 he was united in marriage to Joanna Hillesheim. They made their life together dairy and crop farming on the family farm. While farming Jeff was a member of the Brown County Holstein Association and was Mid-America Dairymen’s Young Cooperators recipient. After retiring from the dairy industry, Jeff had a small beef operation and was a member of the Redwood Cattlemen’s Association. Throughout his working years he was employed at Case Sales and Service, Crows Seed Corn Dealer, Sleepy Eye Auction Barn, Del Monte, River Region Coop, substitute semi-driver for Merv Speckman and Leavenworth Silage. Jeff was active in several organizations including Prairieland Flywheelers Two-Cylinder Club and Sleepy Eye Sportsman’s Boating and Bobbers. He was a lifetime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sleepy Eye. Jeff enjoyed many things in his life including restoring his high school car, a 1974 Dodge Challenger and most recently his 1953 Massey-Harris tractor. He loved going to car shows and most recently his tractor was the featured tractor at FarmFest 2021 for the Two-Cylinder Club. He also enjoyed visiting with his friends and family, traveling, ice fishing, deer hunting, watching the Minnesota Vikings, enjoying coffee with the crew and spending time with his grandchildren.
Jeff is survived by his wife, Joanna of 44 years, daughters, Laura (Joe) Laechel, Mary (Tim) Woltjer, both of Sleepy Eye and son, Thomas Schmid of Mankato; along with 2 grandchildren, Evelyn and Cayden. He is also survived by his brother, Glen (Carol) Schmid and sisters, Eunice Utterback, Linda (Lenny) Halbur and Janelle (Bruce) Guggisberg; sisters-in-law, Barb (Tim) Kleiter, Carol Hillesheim, Marylin (Mike) Schuaman, Kenwyn (Rich) Evers, Maggie (Jim) Schroepfer; brothers-in-law, Mike (Marion) Hillesheim, Pat Hillesheim, Bob (Dana) Hillesheim and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws, Kenneth and Gertrude Hillesheim; brother-in-law, Charles Utterback; and his aunts and uncles.