Erna Schmidt, 99, a resident of Sheboygan Senior Community, died Wednesday, June 19, 2013. Born February 21, 1914, in Plymouth, Erna was a daughter of the late Avery and Emma Kuehn Buss. Erna attended Sheboygan Elementary Schools and Sheboygan Vocational School. On September 23, 1933, she was united in marriage to John Schmidt. Erna worked as telephone operator for the Wisconsin Telephone Company for 36 1/2 years, retiring on August 24, 1974. Erna was a member of the Sheboygan Evangelical Free Church, was a Red Cross Volunteer and a life member of the Telephone Company Pioneers. She enjoyed sewing, card playing, cooking, polka dancing and traveling. She is survived by her daughter Barbara (James) Schommer, Mountain, WI; her son, Steven (Mary) Schmidt, Cumming, GA; five grandchildren, Alan (Linda) Schommer, Janell (Robert) Romnek, Jennifer (Todd) Walbrun, Amanda (Chris) Prior and Casey (Ann) Schmidt; eleven great grandchildren, Catherine, Kurt, Heather Dall, Nicole, Sara, Madison, Chase, Steven, Emilee, Carter and Mya; a great great granddaughter, Lauralei; her sister Beulah Sweeny, Sheboygan; her sister-in-law, Elaine Buss, Sheboygan; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, John; two brothers, Leonard and Rodney; an infant brother, Rupert and one sister, Myrtle. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, June 23, 2013, at the Lippert-Olson Funeral Home, 1132 Superior Ave. Relatives and friends are welcome at the funeral home on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service. Entombment will be in Garden Terrace Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in her name. The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of both Sheboygan Senior Community and St. Nicholas Home Health and Hospice and Erna's grand niece Nikita for the loving care they gave Erna.
