Howard Schmoldt

howard-schmoldtA Celebration of Life Service for Howard R. Schmoldt, 86, of  rural St. James, Minnesota, will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday morning, October 13, 2016 at Kramer Family Funeral Home Chapel in Trimont, Minnesota, with Reverend Matthew Rusert officiating. The funeral home is located at 71 2nd Avenue S. E.

There will be military honors at the funeral home by the Donald V. Larson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #9607 of Butterfield, Minnesota.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. the day of the service at the funeral home.

Messages of Sympathy may be sent to the family online at www.kramerfuneralhome.com.

Howard Schmoldt passed away on Monday  morning, October 10, 2016 at the Trimont Health Care Center in Trimont.

Howard Robert Schmoldt was born on March 1, 1930, the son of Alfred and Gertrude (Gnekow) Schmoldt in Elgin, Illinois. He attended Hilltop Elementary School and graduated from Dundee Community High School with the Class of 1948 in Dundee, Illinois.

Later, in 1948, Howard moved to Ormsby, Minnesota. To this union sons, Ron and Keith were born.

In 1951, he was united in marriage to Nancy Fay (Selpein) Sharp in Elgin, and they made their home in Ormsby.

On September 12, 1951 he entered the United States Army, serving until his honorable discharge on August 14, 1953. He returned to Ormsby and raised his family.

Howard did auto body work and owned and operated his own shop in Ormsby. He also owned the Arctic Cat Dealership in Ormsby and was employed by Roadways Construction in St. James.

Howard and Nancy divorced in 1981.

On November 11, 1983, he was united in marriage to Imogene “Jean” Nau at Howard’s home. Jean died on July 11, 2006.

Howard worked on tractor restoration until his retirement in 2013.  He then moved to Woodland Manor in Fairmont, Minnesota, until becoming a resident of Trimont Health Care Center.

Howard attended of St. John’s Lutheran Church in South Branch, rural St. James. He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Eagles Club in St. James as well as the local snowmobile club. He was an enthusiastic outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing and hunting; raising pheasants, chickens and rabbits; snowmobiling; camping and traveling to Lake Okoboji, Iowa, Branson, Missouri, Florida and Louisiana. All of these hobbies were the favorite past-time as long as he was doing them with his family and many friends.

Howard loved the Butterfield Threshing Bee and could be found driving one of his John Deere tractors at the Bee. He served as Ormsby Fire Department Fire Chief for many years.

Howard is survived by his  two sons, Ronald (Kathy) Schmoldt St. Augusta, Minnesota and Keith Schmoldt of rural St. James and his special friend, Karrie Schmittinger of Wisconsin; three grandchildren, Aaron Ascmoldt and his special friend Amanda Maijer, Abby and Cory Storms and Alicia Schmoldt; three great-grandchildren, Brenna Storms and Gaborik  and MaKenna Schmoldt; brothers, William Schmoldt of St. Charles, Illinois and Larry and Pat Schmoldt of rural Ormsby; sister, Margene  Absolon of Crystal Falls, Michigan; three step-children, Trevor (Dawn) Nau of St. James, Garla (Dennis) Anderson of rural Odin, Minnesota and Vonda (Robert) Rinne of St. James; special family friend, Arlene Janzen of Trimont and nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Imogene “Jean” Schmoldt; brother, Marvin Schmoldt; brother-in-law, Richard Absolon; aunt and uncle, Anna and Cliff Knekow, sister-in-law, Margarete Schmoldt and other relatives.

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