Maurice Bertram Schmidt
Maurice Bertram Schmidt, born on July 7, 1939 at St. Peter’s Colony, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 5th, 2020 in Moose Jaw, SK.
He was the second oldest of 8 children born to Meinard and Anna Marie Schmidt. He grew up on the colony until the family moved to Regina in 1952. In Regina, Mo attended Campion College.
On July 23rd, 1960, Mo and Ethel were married and remained married until Ethel’s passing in 2015. Together, they had 4 amazing, intelligent, beautiful and humble children.
Mo spent most of his career at SGI until he decided he didn’t want to eat sunflower seeds in that office anymore. He then decided to do some freelance insurance adjusting that took him all over the province, and even to the Virgin Islands. Working privately allowed him to travel with his enormous bag of plain and salted sunflower seeds.
Throughout his life Mo loved sports. He played baseball, bowled and curled. Eventually, he spent a lot of his time umping ball when he no longer played. If you needed to find him for some cash in between innings, you could find him by the first base dugout at Ross Well’s, having a smoke.
When he wasn’t playing or coaching sports, he was watching sports. Mo LOVED the Riders. Matt Dunnigan commentating – not so much. Mo had season tickets for the Riders since the 1950’s. It was a sad day when he had to give them up. He was able to see a couple of games in the new stadium and thought it was a great place. He barely complained about it, which meant that he loved it! Mo loved watching sports and was a fixture on the diamonds or the alleys. Mo was passionate about scorekeeping the World Series. He kept score for every series since 1963! In the last couple of years, he was able to watch a new generation of ball player take to the field and you could see him swell with pride.
Mo also spent a lot of time coaching his kids. Hockey, bowling, and baseball were all sports Mo coached at one time or another. Ask any of his children about his “gentle” coaching methods – we all have stories! His kid’s friends grew to love Mo and have so many stories to tell from his coaching days.
Mo loved to be involved! This guy would give you the shirt off his back. He gave so much of his time volunteering and giving back to his community. He volunteered with the Legion Poppy Fund, Mental Health Association, the Sprigs of Heather, and Meals on Wheels. He also volunteered with the Blue Goose and one year was even the “Grand Pooba”.
One of his favourite places to spend his time was the Lynbrook Golf Course. During his time there, Mo took over the Carl Jorgensen Par 27 and it was his and Ethel’s baby. They both devoted so much time to making that tournament a success. He also took roles on the board and as the Club Captain. Last year, they honoured him with a lifetime membership for all of his contributions. He was so proud that day.
He was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Ethel; his and Ethel’s’ parents: Meinard and Anna Marie Schmidt, and Walter and Ina Gwilt; and nephew, Michael Schmidt.
Always loving him are his children: Lori (Ron) Farnel, Tracey Schmidt (Clint Chesney), Stewart (Eran) Schmidt, and Lindsay Morhart (Buck). Mo loved all of his granddaughters, even though there was competition for the favourite: Erin Farnel (Shane Ashworth), Amanda Farnel, Charli Morhart and Leigha and Emily Schmidt, all held such a special place in Mo’s heart. His best customers when it came to Grey Cup or Superbowl tickets were his siblings: Marcella O’Connell, John (Betty) Schmidt, Marilyn (Ben) Herschmiller, Jeannette (Gerry) Zimmer, Bernie (Patti) Schmidt, Rod Schmidt, and Rita Adams. Mo was blessed with all of these people and tonnes of nieces and nephews. He was so proud of his family and how close everyone is. He knew he was loved.
Mo had his sassy pants on right until the end, in case you were all wondering.
The family invites you all to come and share stories with us, or insults Mo may have hurled at you, on Monday, March 9th, 2020 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Lynbrook Golf Course, 1525 4th Ave NW, Moose Jaw, SK and invite you to wear your Rider gear or anything green.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mo’s name may be made to the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, 200 – 4545 Parliament Ave, Regina, SK S4W 0G3 www.cancerfoundationsask.ca/donate/in-memory-gift/ Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane. Gary McDowell, Funeral Director 306-693-4550
Dear Schmidt family I was sorry to read about Mo’s passing and wanted to let you know my family’s thoughts and prayers go out to all of you. RIP Mo
Our sincerest sympathy to the Schmidt family. We have fond memories of Maurice & Ethel in Estevan and Moose Jaw.
Dear Schmidt family – so sorry that he had to leave you all and I know he will be truly missed – but Ethel has been calling him for quite some time now. Maurice and I were almost twin cousins – he was one day older than me!
Wow, what a sweet relationship he had with his Grandchildren. They will forever remember him, as well as the rest of his family and circle of friends. Farewell, dear cousin, until we meet again!!
Our deepest sympathy to the Schmidt family. May all your memories of Mo comfort you and bring peace to the family!
Leonard and Jeanette Schaeffer
So sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. We’re sure he was in A & W with Ken Peebles this week so this came as a complete surprize. He was a regular there & we always got a kick out of him as he’d come over to our table & tease us that we were talking too much or too loud. He sold many of us Remembrance Day pins to wear…just a genuine fine gentleman. He will be missed by all who knew him……..we know he had some health challenges but still managed a big smile & cheerful outlook. John & Shirley Gunn ( we will be unable to attend as have another commitment that day) but know our heartfelt sympathy is with you all.
I AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS! SUCH A WONDERFUL FRIENDLY MAN! WILL SURE BE MISSED AT THE LEGION! HUGS AND PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY!
To Linds and family. Mo was quite the man! He was always up for good joke and never missed a beat on his response. My fav is seeing him walk up Aster Cres and say, “what is this riff raff doing here” and then chuckle.
So thankful I got to grow up with the Schmidt’s.
We are very sorry to hear about Moe’s passing. His usually smiling face will be missed at the Lynbrook as he was always one of the first there in the morning to “check in” the Pro Shop to make sure everything was “OK” then have coffee. We knew he would be back later every afternoon and back into the Pro Shop just to make sure everything was still good. He and Ethel both contributed countless hours promoting and working to make the Lynbrook a better place for all. Both will be sadly missed. Thanks for all you did over the years for not only the Lynbrook, but all the other organizations you helped along your journey. Condolences to your Family from ours.
To The Family
I believe my fellow Life Member Blue Goose Gander & Friend
has finished his earthly labors and has taken his Last Flight
to the home nest above to again meet his loving wife Ethel
IN DEEPEST SYMPATHY
Cas. Pielak
Life Member
Blue Goose Regina Pond
To all of the family, our sincerest condolences. Mo will be greatly missed by his many friends and the numerous organizations he helped throughout his time with us. Although we cannot be at the Memorial, know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Mo will always be remembered. With sincere sympathy.
So very sorry for your loss. May your many memories comfort you at this sad time. Hugs to all of you. So sorry we cannot attend but our thought and prayers will be with you all.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the Schmidt family! We all have so many happy memories of Mo!! Ethel and all his golf buddies will be happy to greet him!!
Hugs to all.
Fran Banting and family.
Thank you Fran. He was always talking about his memories with Dave & Ken. He is now with Ethel. Where he should be
Rod and all the family,
Sincere condolences on Mo’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Pat and Carol Kydd and family.
Sorry for your loss, a loss that all of us will feel. I remember when I first started working at the Lynbrook. As the VicePresident Mo made himself available to sign cheques or whatever else was needed. I always felt that Mo supported me and I appreciated his sense of humour.
I was very saddened when I heard via brother Bob in Regina that Maurice had passed away. He was my childhood best friend in the years that his family lived in the colony. One of the highlights during my years as a boarder at Campion College in Regina was the Sundays that I would be invited to spend with the Schmidt family, get a home cooked meal and experience the warmth and love in that family. Whenever I did make it back to Saskatchewan one of the highlights often was seeing Maurice and Ethel. Sincere and loving condolences to Maurice’s children as well as to his siblings, most of whom I remember well and fondly.
Thank you so much. I’m learning how many people my dad touched over the years. You’ll be happy to know that the Schmidt family still gets together every Sun for breakfast to this day. Mo went all the time until about 6 wks ago. He will be missed
Our deepest condolences to the Schmidt family on your loss. May those treasured memories comfort you in the days and seeks to come. Love Aunt Irene Ell and her family.
I’ve already given my condolences in person, and with Stew and Lindsay msging, after coming here just wanting to read the words of all four of you through one pen of the things about Mo that are still alive in all of the people’s lives he touched. He’s been a fixture in my life as far back as memory goes, and even as times goes by and some people move to the peripheries of our lives through circumstance, every single interaction I have with Mo left me a little better that he had found me.
I’ve wondered why that is and that specific qualities he had that made that happen like magic, and finally decided it’s unknowable, but also a huge way of knowing how good of a person someone is, and I am positive if your dad had an effect like that on me that he did with everyone else his life touched and touches still. I can only say that about a very few people in my life, too, though I can say that also about you Laurie, Tracey, Stew, and Lindsay. I love your mom and dad and all of you, too, stay strong and be kind to yourselves, thinking about you a lot.