Willard A. Schmitting

Willard A. Schmitting, 84, of Sheboygan, passed away on Saturday evening, July 5, 2014, at the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice surrounded by his family.
Born December 1, 1929, in Chilton, WI, Willard was a son of the late Arthur and Kathryn Horness Schmitting. He attended Hilbert area schools and graduated from Hilbert High School. He then went on to serve his country in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953. On November 8, 1952, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth A. Bittner in Chilton.
Willard worked in the pottery division of the Kohler Company for 40 years before his retirement in 1995. He was a member of St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church. He was a member of the Kupsch-Brockman American Legion Post 127 in Hilbert for over 60 years. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping but his greatest joy was the time he spent with his grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife of  61 years, Betty; his nine children, James (Roxane) Schmitting, Brillion, WI, JoAnn (Ron) Dubin, Harrogate, TN, Karen (Kevin) Ryan, Milwaukee, Diane (Scott) Luedke, Sheboygan, Darold (Pam) Schmitting, Sheboygan, Cindy (George) Tzortzos, Brookfield, Patricia (Dan) Lindow, Sheboygan, Kelly (Craig) Dorn, Darboy, WI, and John (Tina) Schmitting, Sheboygan; 23 grandchildren, Jesse, Drew and Kyle Schmitting, Carly, Natalie, Katherine and Nathan Dubin, Jack, Liam and Eleanor Ryan, Laura and Margot Luedke, Shawn Schmitting, Morgan (Judd) Strauss, Elizabeth, John and Jacob Tzortzos, Dylan and Sam Lindow, Alexandria and Maxwell Dorn, and Zachary and Jake Schmitting; two great grandchildren, Graham Bickford and Logan Schmitting; his sister, Carol Matthies; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Wynogene Schmitting, Rosemary (Elroy) Krebsbach, Susan Koehler, Francis (Delores) Blahnik and William (Madlyn) Bittner; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Arthur, Richard and John Schmitting, a sister-in-law, Phyllis Schmitting; and two brothers-in-law, Lowell Matthies and Lloyd Koehler.
A Memorial Service for Willard will take place at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, 13th & Lincoln Avenue. The Rev. Matthew Peters will officiate. Family and friends are welcome at the church on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Inurnment will take place in Gardens of Peace Mausoleum with full Military Honors.
A memorial fund has been established in his name.
The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice for all of their loving care and support.
The Olson Funeral Home & Cremation Service has been entrusted with Willard's arrangements.