Obit: Schmidt, Viola (1908 - 1999)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Franck, Griesbach, Hoeve, Mathias, Messman, Roberts, Schmidt, Walworth, Williams, Zirngible

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 5/19/1999

Schmidt, Viola "Vi" (Mathias) (6 JAN 1908 - 14 MAY 1999)

Viola "Vi" Schmidt, 91, of Medford, died Friday, May 14, 1999, at Memorial Nursing Home in Medford where she had resided for 10 days.

Funeral services were held Monday, May 17, at Hemer Funeral Home in Medford with Rev. Roy D. Williams officiating. Burial took place in Medford Evergreen Cemetery II.

Pallbearers were Norman Franck, Jonathon and Raymond Griesbach, Jim Messman, Clarence Zirngible, and Donald Walworth.

The former Viola Mathias was born January 6, 1908, in Janesville to Bert and Julia (Roberts) Mathias. In 1914, she and her parents moved to Taylor County and she attended Medford area schools. Following her education, she farmed and did woods work in the Town of Grover, and also transported children to school. She moved to Milwaukee in the late 1930s and was employed in a tannery and also worked in restaurants.

She married Frank J. Schmidt on September 4, 1943, in Milwaukee. They returned to Taylor County and farmed in the Town of Molitor and later in Lublin. She had also been employed at various restaurants including Milly's Bowling, the Coffee Cup and the Pals Cafe, all in Medford.
In 1957, they retired and moved to the Town of Medford. They moved to the City of Medford in 1970. She enjoyed crocheting, quilt making and needlepoint. She was active in the Happy Americans Club and its nutrition program and also volunteered at The Little Store in Medford.

Survivors include a son, Harold (Melanie) Schmidt of Michigan City, Ind.; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Frank on May 8, 1990; two brothers, Herbert in infancy and Homer Mathias; and four sisters, Hazel Griesbach, twins Dora Griesbach and Dorothy Hoeve, and Mary Walworth.