Joel Karnick
Margaret “Mugs” E. Schmidt (nee Baker) passed away at Aspirus Regency Assisted Living Facility, Phillips, WI 54555.
Margaret was born on August 27, 1925, in Stanley, WI, to parents Warren and Euphemia Baker. She grew up in Stanley, attended St. Mary’s Catholic School, and graduated from Stanley High School in 1942. She worked that summer at the Baraboo Defense Plant with her sister, Rita, and her best friend, Betty Seidl. She then attended Taylor County Normal Teachers College in Medford, WI. She completed the course in a year and a half due to WWII and the shortage of teachers.
She married Reubin A. Schmidt on June 3, 1947, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Stanley, WI. They lived on a farm outside of Dorchester for several years, then moved to Abbotsford. Upon Reubin’s retirement, they moved up to their Lake Home, Phillips, WI. For several winters they became snowbirds, spending time in Davenport, FL.
Margaret taught for 33 years; her first teaching position was for two years at Gilman Elementary School. She then taught at Pioneer Country School, Thorp for 2 years, Liberty County School, Stetsonville for 3 years. She taught for the Dorchester School District for one year. Margaret taught at Pleasant Hill Country Grade School for three years. She taught at the Abbotsford School District for 22 years, retiring in 1980. Her daughters surprised her by putting a plaque with her name on the “Tiles of Honor” Wall at the Abbotsford School in December of 1999.
Upon her retirement, she enjoyed spending time with her four grandchildren, she also painted and did ceramics. Margaret also enjoyed walking every day, which she continued to do after moving up to the lake. Mugs and Angie Knapp would sometimes walk multiple times a day when Angie was at her cottage. Reubin and Mugs also enjoyed traveling with family and friends, who lovingly knew her as “Amaretto Annie”. They traveled to the east and west coasts.
Mugs is survived by her three daughters, Mavis (Ernest “Jr”) Dyson of Wauwatosa, WI, Arlyne (Tom) Frane of Phillips, WI, and Bobbi (Rocky) Schmidt of Phillips, WI; four grandchildren, Kevin (Kris) Frane of Somerset, WI, Kelly (Joe) Gribowski of Eau Claire, WI, Andy (Mandi) Schmidt of Phillips, WI, Erin (Jamie) Hinker of Colby, WI. She is also survived by 8 grandchildren, Kandra (Craig) McKenzie, Daejo Laurin, Madison Gribowski, Edynn, Archer, Cash, and Lariah Hinker, and Brynlee Schmidt; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
Margaret is preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Reubin; parents; brothers, Paul, Edward (Pat), Richard (Ole); sisters, Agnes, Genevieve, Imogene, and Rita.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at St. Therese of Lisieux, 655 S. Lake Ave, Phillips, WI 54555, with Father Lourdu officiating. Visitation will begin two hours prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will be in Abbotsford Public Cemetery at a later date. Heindl-Nimsgern Funeral Home is assisting the family.
A special thank you to the staff of Aspirus Regency Assisted Living of Phillips, and Moments Hospice of Rhinelander, for the excellent care they provided.
