Andrew George SCHMIDT

SCHMIDT, Andrew G., 79, of Fenton, died Friday, May 28, 2010 at Genesys Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be held on Friday, June 4, 2010 from 11 am until 8 pm at Sharp Funeral Home, 1000 Silver Lake Rd., Fenton. Funeral service will be held Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 11 am at Fenton High School, 3200 W. Shiawassee Ave., Fenton, the Rev. John McLean and the Rev. Michael Weber officiating. Cremation will follow, and a military burial service will be held at Great Lakes National Cemetery. Andy was born February 22, 1931 in Toledo, OH, the son of Orville and Florence (Barrett) Schmidt. He graduated from Royal Oak High School and served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict before enrolling in General Motors Institute (GMI), from which he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and Business Administration. On June 21, 1952, he married Charlotte Rideout, beginning a partnership that would last for nearly 58 years. For 38.5 of those years, Andy was employed by General Motors Corp., from which he retired as Manager of the Service Parts Pricing Division at General Motors Service Parts (GMSPO). The relocation of his family to Fenton in 1969 was the beginning of the journey that would lead him to become known informally as "Mr. Fenton", due to his dedicaton to countless civic and volunteer organizations, particularly those servicing students. His greatest love and object of his dedication was to "The Kids" of Fenton, serving for nineteen years as a Fenton High School Band Booster and trip coordinator and as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader and district representative for the Tall Pine Council. Andy furthered his devotion to kids when he was elected to the Fenton Board of Education in 1978. He would serve on the Fenton Board for twenty-four years, eighteen of them as its president. During his time of service, he and Charlotte organized and chaperoned countless band and camp trips and spent thirteen years in the same capacity for The Fenton Ambassadors. He also tutored many, many students and was an anonymous financial donor to countless students who needed assistance. A civic leader, Andy was a co-founder, treasurer, and Executive Director of the Fenton Area Resource and Referral (FARR), was chairman of all City of Fenton parades except Memorial Day and was reluctantly the Grand Marshal of the 2008 Freedom Festival Parade. He was the former president of Fenton FACTS, a member of the Mott Community College President's Council, and was a counselor for American Field Service (AFS), the country's oldest foreign exchange student program. Although he received numerous awards and recognition throughout his life of service, including being a State of Michigan Governor's Service Award finalist, none left him as emotional and speechless as the naming of the Andrew G. Schmidt Middle Scool (AGS) in his honor in 1999. At the time of his death, Andy was a member of the Fenton United Methodist Church, Kiwanis, and was the Tyrone Township Supervisor. Andy was an avid Civil War buff, loved the Budweiser Clydesdale horses, the bronze sculpture of Daniel Monfort and season tickets to the Fisher Theatre. Still, Andy first and foremost found the greatest joy in the time spent with his family, whether it was on a houseboat at Harson's Island when his sons were young, during numerous trips to Washington D.C. and Walt Disney World over the years, and always, always those very special Christmas mornings. Surviving Andy are his devoted wife, Charlotte, sons and "daughters" Paul and Julianne of Linden and Daniel and Jackie of Fenton, grandsons Scott and Jason Vincent and great-grandson, Erik. He is also survived by eight "sons" and one "daughter" from years if hosting foreign exchange students, especially Ollie Pekka Koivurova and his wife Sari of Finland and their children Aino, Veikka and Heini. Andy leaves behind a sister, Betty Fess of Des Plaines, IL, brothers and sisters-in-law, Floyd and Martha Rideout, Dick and Kay Edgar and Elizabeth Bristol and numerous special nieces and nephews and friends. Treasured friendships with Robert Burek, Lynn Ferguson, Lynn Hopper, Kirk Louis, Hod Morton, Ken Wensel, and Ray and Mickey Wright were forged through their years of work together in the schools and the community. Cherished forever were the friendships with the countless students who called him "Dad", who asked him to present their diplomas, invited him to their weddings, brought their children to visit, and shared their successes in life. Andy was predeceased by his parents, adored mother and father-in-law Charles and Leota Rideout, sister, Jean Hoffman in June 2009, brothers-in-law Jack Bristol, Carl Hoffman and Ted Fess, sister-in-law Mary Ann Rideout, dear friends George Telgenhoff and Jack Winegarden, and his precious Silky. Andy's family asks that, in his memory, we look for opportunities to mentor young people. Donations in his name can be made to Fenton Area Resource and Referral (FARR) in care of State Bank of Fenton. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com

Visitation

Friday, June 4, 2010 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sharp Funeral Homes - Fenton Chapel
1000 Silver Lake Road Fenton 48430, United States

Funeral Service

Saturday, June 5, 2010 11:00 AM
Fenton High School
3200 W Shiawassee Ave Fenton 48430, United States