Arlene Schmidt
Arlene Schmidt, 88, of Prairie du Chien, formerly of Bloomington, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 9, surrounded by her loving family at Prairie Maison Care Center in Prairie du Chien.
She was born in the township of Bloomington on Jan. 28, 1929, the daughter of John and Clementine (Bohnenkamp) Hermsen. She graduated from Bloomington High School in 1946. Arlene married Leonard Schmidt, at St. Mary’s Church in Bloomington, on Feb. 4, 1948. They were blessed with 68 wonderful years together before Lennie passed away on March 24, 2016. She worked as a bookkeeper for Beetown Sale Barn for a few years and for Bloomington Farmers Mutual Insurance Company for thirty years.
She also served on the School Board for the Bloomington School District for a number of years. Arlene and Lennie spent many active years enjoying square dancing, bowling, and golfing. She was a member of St. Mary’s Church and the Catholic Daughters. She was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers and the University of Wisconsin Badgers. Arlene dearly loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and keeping up with their activities.
Arlene is survived by six children: James (Glori), of Menomonie; Jane (David) Farmer, of Export, Penn.; Dennis (Susan), of De Forest; Judy (Peter) Drone, of Bloomington; Margie (William) Miller, of St. Paul, Minn.; John (Sara), of Bloomington; many grandchildren and great grandchildren; four sisters: Joanne (Glen) Ward, of Onalaska, Marguerite (Roland) Clinton, of McGregor, Iowa, Kathleen (Michael) Leard, of Prairie du Chien, Caroline Bidwell, of Las Vegas, Nev.; one brother: Philip Hermsen, of Auburn, Ala; four sisters-in-law: Jen Hermsen, Eileen Hermsen and Gloria Schmidt, of Prairie du Chien, and Lucille Fassbender, of Winter Park, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews.
Arlene was preceded in death by her husband, Lennie; her brothers: Ambrose, James and Walter; one sister: Marjorie (Raymond) Jaynes; a daughter-in-law: Beverly (Noble) Schmidt; two sisters-in-law: JoAnne Hermsen and Alta (Harold) Weittenhiller; three brothers-in-law: Arthur “Bud” (Adeline) and Ivan Schmidt and Richard Fassbender.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 13, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bloomington with Father John Meinholz officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Bloomington. Family and friends may call on Saturday from 9 a.m. until time of services at the church. Martin Schwartz Funeral Home & Crematory in Bloomington is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.martinschwartzfuneralhomes.com.
