Richard William Schmidt, Jr.

Richard William Schmidt Jr., 73, passed away Friday, November 1, 2024, in West Terre Haute, Indiana. He was born on December 16, 1950, in Tipton, Indiana to Richard William Schmidt and Clotilde Concannon Schmidt.

Survivors include his wife, Kathleen Schmidt of 53 years of marriage; Daughters, Kelly Schmidt (Robert Roth) Shannon Croisetiere (Jeff), Megan Schmidt (Andrew Wells); grandchildren Kevin Schmidt (Lila), Lillian Croisetiere, Mollie Croisetiere, Flynn Wells and several great grandchildren; Siblings include Dr. Thomas C Schmidt, Pat Schmidt (Carol), Dr. Mary R Schmidt, Jeffrey C Schmidt (Anne), Dr. Jeanne Schmidt (Dan McFarland); and 12 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Joe Schmidt and Dr. Shawn Schmidt.

Richard was an electrical engineer contractor that supported the United States military and included a long stint at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington D.C. (19 years). He ended his career as an entrepreneur with a focus on renewable energy, one of his several passions in life. He served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He received his undergraduate at the University of South Florida and a master’s degree at Florida Institute Technology. He enjoyed taking care of his family, continuing and promoting higher education, watching sports of all kinds particularly Nebraska football “Go Big Red” and soccer (Go Tampa Bay Rowdies - “the Rowdies are here, the Rowdies are there, they kick the ball around. The Rowdies are here, the Rowdies are there and then they fall on the ground…oh the Rowdies”), coaching girls soccer with a focus of developing players leaving a lasting impact on those that played for him “#Never Give Up”, biggest fan of his own daughters’ sport activities, watching movies (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Indiana Jones & James Bond), riding his bike, listening to music loudly in the car (ACDC, Rolling Stones, B-52’s), love of airplanes (Oshkosh Air Shows), passion for the environment/climate change, solar energy, talking about & attending Space Camp, wearing New Balance shoes, using Windex (the cure for all things), and being back home in “the Concannon/Schmidt Homestead”. He had many passions in life and if you spoke to him you felt the passion as well.

“May the long time sun shine upon you.” - written by Mike Heron of the Incredible String Band.

Services will be conducted privately with immediate and extended family