Obituary of Olga Schmidt
Olga Schmidt, age 90, passed away peacefully on, Thursday, March 25, 2021, in Crest Hill, IL. Olga was born February 10, 1931, the daughter of the late Michael and Mary Czerkies, and grew up on a farm near Lockport, IL.
Olga was a lifelong resident of the Joliet area. She attended Wells ‘one room’ school in Homer Township and St. Thaddeus Catholic Grade School and was a graduate of St. Francis Academy, Joliet, with the class of 1949.
She married George L. Schmidt on June 10, 1951. Olga was a businesswoman at heart and worked alongside her husband at G.L. Schmidt Construction assisting him with running the business and completing the bookwork. She was strong-willed and determined; the “heart” of the Schmidt family. She was fiercely loyal and protective of her loved ones, and always willing to lend a hand (or an ear).
Olga and George shared a passion for fishing and the outdoors. They spent their honeymoon fishing and traveled from Florida to Alaska casting where they could. The family has many memories of times spent waterskiing and fishing together at Goose Lake.
Olga and George liked to spend vacations traveling the country, exploring as far away as Alaska and Mexico City, and in later years visiting their children and grandchildren. Olga liked the serenity of fishing, gardening, or reading a good book, but also the excitement of a day in the casino playing her favorite slot machines with family and friends.
Olga is survived by her beloved husband of almost 70 years, George L. Schmidt; loving children, Debby (Denny) Wise of Washington, Cindy (C. Greg) Peden of Indiana, Bob Schmidt of Illinois, and Mark (Lisa Shellenberger) Schmidt of California; adoring grandchildren, Keith Peden, Melissa (Andrew) Henckel, Kim (Felix) Danciu, Kristin Schmidt, Matthew Schmidt, Michael Schmidt and Nicholas Schmidt; great-grandchildren, Julian, Alex, Reven, Taryn, Inara and Bella; and her dear sister, Jenny Koerner. Many nieces, nephews and friends also survive.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Peter Czerkies, Joseph Czerkies and Ed Czerkies; and her sisters, Sofie Bajt and Helen Bolek.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial for Olga Schmidt will be on Saturday, June 5, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus, 604 N. Raynor Ave., Joliet, IL 60435. Face masks are required, social distancing and capacity restrictions will be observed.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Arbor Day Foundation, or plant a tree in her honor.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home. For more information, please call (815) 741-5500 or you may visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com where you can share a favorite memory or leave an online condolence.
