Allan Schmidt

Allan Schmidt of Kasson, formerly of Cosmos and Litchfield, passed away on May 10, 2018 at Prairie Meadows Senior Living at the age of 83. Allan enjoyed a full life of farming, playing cards, traveling and enjoying family before complications from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (nerve disorder), trauma from farm accidents and dementia took their toll in recent years. Allan was born to Franklin and Margaret (Luedtke) Schmidt on November 12, 1934, in Acoma Township, MN (rural Hutchinson). He was baptized on December 2, 1934 and later confirmed his faith on June 12, 1949 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Litchfield. In high school, Allan was most proud of his letter in the Theater Projection Club and was active in 4-H and FFA. He graduated from Litchfield High School in 1953. Upon graduating, he worked on the family farm and took a job as a DHIA supervisor; testing milk on area farms. While visiting a small dairy farm near Cosmos, he met the love of his life, Bonnie Boeder. Allan and Bonnie were united in marriage on December 26, 1955. God blessed their marriage with six children. They established Bonal Farms on Bonnie’s home farm in rural Cosmos and farmed for 48 years, until moving to Litchfield in 2005. Having six kids, Allan would boast that he had children in sunday school for 26 years straight and in 4-H for 27 years. He had an aptitude for math and would always come up with interesting calculations. His children remember him saying how important math was to farming. He thoroughly enjoyed playing bridge and cribbage; Allan and Bonnie played in several marathon bridge clubs. Allan could easily play bridge every day of the week! Many can also attest to Allan’s vivid storytelling. Each one of his children inherited this “outgoing” trait. If you stopped at the farm, you could expect to listen to a long story or be asked to lend a hand with some farm work. Allan was a lifelong member of 4-H and was very active in the community, serving 43 years on the Cosmos Township Board and 25 years as president of the Meeker County Township Association. He also served on the Advisory Board for former Gov. Arne Carlson, Meeker County Holstein Association, DHIA, Farm Bureau, FHA, Meeker County Fair Board, Cosmos Creamery Board, Atwater Creamery Board and Minnesota Milk Producers Association. He was also financial secretary of his church for many years. His favorite board appointment was for Midwest Breeders (now Genex) in Shawano, WI. He and Bonnie were fortunate to take several trips with Midwest Breeders, including two European tours. Allan became a grandfather at the age of 46 and remained a very active grandpa for many years. He spent countless hours running his grandkids to cattle shows, ball games, to-and-from school and various activities. He was their biggest fan, especially at basketball games and 4-H activities. His grandchildren were his greatest joy and would brag endlessly about them. In July of 2017, Allan and Bonnie left their home county of more than 80 years and moved to Kasson, in southeastern Minnesota, to be close to their three youngest grandchildren. During this past year, it was his youngest grandchild who was able to break past the pain and frustrations of dementia and fearlessly allow him to be her grandpa too. Allan is survived by Bonnie, his wife of 62 years; Children: Robert (Laury) of Darwin; Gary (Joan), Fergus Falls; Gene (Joy), Cosmos; Jay, Plainview; Beth Krumrie (Olumide), Brooklyn Park and Carol (Tim) Sullivan of West Concord. His grandchildren: Jennifer (Mike) Padden, Stephanie Holden, Michael Schmidt, Johnathan Schmidt; Cassie Schmidt; Ryan, Blake and Cory Schmidt; Justin and Angalee Schmidt; Nicole Krumrie (Jacob) and Matthew Krumrie; Sadie, Wyatt and Schuyler Sullivan. Great-Grandchildren: Kieran Holden, Kendalyn Schmidt and Jace Padden. Aunt, Maxine Schmidt, Ocean View, NJ; Siblings: Shirley Olson, Mounds View; Marilyn Hugh, Des Plaines, IL; Larry (Pat) Schmidt, St. Louis Park; Ronald (Gail) Schmidt, Gainesville, FL. Brother-in-law, Charles (DonnaBelle) Boeder, Pipestone; Brother-in-law, Loren Hirman, Lester Prairie. Many nieces, nephews, friends and former neighbors, the Loveland family. He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Barbara Hirman; brothers-in-law, LaVerne Olson and John Hugh. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 18, 2018 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Litchfield. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, May 17, at Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home, Litchfield. Interment will be in the Ripley Cemetery in Litchfield.