Wayne Schmidt

Wayne Louis Schmidt died September 24, 2024 in Wausau, Wisconsin. He was born September 14, 1935 in the town of Spirit, Wisconsin. He was the oldest son of Nellie Cutts Schmidt and Louis Schmidt. He attended Liberty School in the town of Spirit, and completed high school at Lincoln High in Wisconsin Rapids. He attended the UW-Stevens Point, UW-Madison, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, earning degrees in history and business administration. While serving in the Army, he was stationed at Bremerhaven in Germany.

He married Phyllis Marie Caskey on Jun 15, 1963 in Phelps, Wisconsin. Wayne and Phyllis lived in Madison, Philadelphia, and Wausau before settling down on their farm in Marathon. Wayne worked for Wausau Insurance, and then taught insurance and business classes at Northcentral Technical College for 33 years before retiring in 2000. Wayne was a great family man, teacher, farmer, traveler, and bon vivant. A lifelong adventurer, he hitchhiked Europe in 1957, traveled around the world with family and friends, and enjoyed cross-country road trips on his Harley. He volunteered as a tax preparer for the elderly as well as serving in the Kiwanis Club of Wausau, the Marathon County Retired Educators, and at First Presbyterian Church of Wausau.

Wayne is survived by his sister Fran Bailey-Gokey of Wisconsin Rapids, WI; children Steve Schmidt (Brad Hamilton) of Chapel Hill, NC; Bill (Georgia) Schmidt of Raleigh, NC; Kate (Roger) Fletcher of Verona, WI; grandchildren Emily and Thomas Schmidt and Garrett and Sam Fletcher, and many other friends and extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents Nellie and Louis Schmidt; brothers LeRoy and Arnold Schmidt; and his wife Phyllis Caskey Schmidt.

A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Wausau on Wednesday, November 27, with a visitation at 10AM and service at 11AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to First Presbyterian Church of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College, or Kiwanis. Or treat your loved ones to a fish fry and drink a toast to Wayne, the life of the party.