Dr. Jerome Schmidt
Dr. Jerome A Schmidt, age 86, of Pulaski, passed away Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, with his family at his side. Jerome was born January 30, 1936, to Andrew and Mary (Gebauer) Schmidt in Spencer.
Jerome graduated from Loyal High School in 1954. He then served in the United States Army and was deployed to Japan and Korea. After his discharge, he returned to Loyal and helped on the family farm. A year later he began attending UW-River Falls in the pre-vet program, the start of a lifelong career.
Jerome married his high school sweetheart, Karen Wichman, on August 27, 1960. He finished his undergraduate degree at UWRiver Falls and went on to the University of Minnesota, where he completed his doctor of veterinary medicine degree in 1965.
After graduation, Jerome established a veterinary practice in Edgar. In September of 1966, a severe car accident left him in a body cast, with 23 broken bones and a long hospital and home recovery. He was able to return to his practice where he worked until he retired in 1991, at which time the couple moved to Missouri. But it wasn’t long before his love for animals called him back to work again. Jerome began a small animal mobile practice, which he operated until 2017. Doc and Karen returned to Wisconsin in 2017, so they could be closer to their family.
Animals were always a part of his life. Doc raised his family in Edgar on a farm that had more than 40 horses and other livestock. Jerome and Karen raised many Quarter and Paint show-horses, including two world champions. Their children enjoyed showing horses every summer weekend and experiencing life on the farm. In retirement, they had a 270 acre ranch in Missouri, where their many different livestock included Missouri Fox Trotters, cattle such as Zebus, Watusi and Italian Chianina, and New Zealand Booroola and Marino sheep. Doc had an auction company and was an auctioneer. He also served as school board president, and as a horse show judge.
Jerome is survived by his wife of 62 years, Karen; three children: Jacqueline Bergquist (friend Mark Roberts), Oshkosh, Tammy Lipsey (Michael), Pulaski and Jay Schmidt (Tammy), Edgar. He was the proud grandfather of six grandchildren: Jordyn, Kayla, Austin, Samantha, Tyler and Camryn. He is further survived by a brother, Andrew (Faye) Schmidt; sisters: Dorthy Ertl and Evelyn (John) Schultz; sister-in-law, Judy Schmidt; brother-in-law, Larry Waldhauser, as well as many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Mary; a brother, Donald Schmidt and a sister, Marie Waldhauser.
A special thank you to Jerome’s care team at Bristol Hospice and Emerald Bay Memory Care.
A Celebration of Life will be held later this spring in Edgar. Please watch the funeral home website for updated scheduling information.
To leave a condolence for the Schmidt family, please visit www. marnochafuneralhome.com or the Marnocha Funeral Home Facebook page.
Paid obituary 131478
