Joyce Mae Schmidt

Schmidt, Joyce M. (Young) Joyce M. Schmidt, after 88 good years, passed in the early hours of January 26th. She was surrounded by family and was at her home in Fridley MN. Cancer sucks. She is survived by her three children, Barbara Schmidt, John Schmidt (Sherry Schmidt), Diane Schmidt (Roman Makurat), and grandson Joseph Schmidt. She will be welcomed into the next world by her husband Robert, sister Donna, her parents and a multitude of friends and family. I am sure the infamous mutual backscratching hugs will commence. hmmmmmm Born in Bay City Michigan, she was a quiet child that loved to read, draw pictures, and spend time outside. She never lost her thirst for knowledge, expressing herself through art, and nature became her church. She studied fine art at Grinnell college and married the boy she had known since childhood. They were together until his passing in 2017. As a mom, she was a safe harbor for all the kids in the neighborhood. She taught us patience, kindness, and how to plant a tree. In the autumn the street still glows with the sugar maples she scattered in her neighbors' yards. "Sometimes you can see them better from a distance." Nothing gave her more joy than doing things for those she appeciated. She continued to give things freely her whole life. Her need to learn and explore was evident when her children heard the stories at family meals. "Mom was a sharp shooter in college?" "She took flying lessons?" Under that quiet exterior was a fierce woman. As time went by she found her voice and shared her thoughts... with anyone and everyone! She remained a voracious reader and would knowledgeable discuss anything from history to philosophy to whether or not red bellied snakes are native to northern Minnesota. If we thought she made it up, she would pull out a book and prove it. Most of the time. A soft tda tda tda dum de dum de dum was constantly muttered as she puttered and thought about the world we live in and what she could do to make it better. She was discussing alternative energy sources with great passion days before her passing. For such a tiny person, she was a force of nature. Her love of people made her a friend to everyone. To know her was to have a conversation. The stranger in line at the store, the rug dealer in Turkey, anyone, anyplace, she loved all of humanity. She loved her long weekends at the cabin watching her "chicks" laugh and carry on. She enjoyed traveling, from Australia to Africa to France, sometimes with family, sometimes with friends. In later years she concentrated on amazing trips to paint and marvel at the southwest with her friend Catherine. "Oh why not" was her mantra. It served her well. The family will be doing a Celebration of Life on April 10th at her home in Fridley from 12-3. For details, email joyceschmidtfamily@gmail.com Memorials to the non-profit of your choice.

Tributes

Joyce Mae Schmidt

August 6, 1933 - January 26, 2022

Tributes

Joyce Mae Schmidt

August 6, 1933 - January 26, 2022

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