Frank Gerald Schmidt, 94, Fairbury died at 11:12pm Monday, January 5, 2009 at Fairview Haven Nursing Home, Fairbury.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am Friday, January 9, 2009 at the Apostolic Christian Church, Fairbury with the ministers of the church officiating. Burial will be in the Fairbury Apostolic Christian Cemetery with full military rites accorded by the Fairbury VFW post #9789 and the John Joda American Legion post #54. Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00pm Thursday at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury and 9:00 to 9:45 am Friday at the church. The family suggests memorials be given to Fairview Haven Nursing Home, Fairbury or the American Heart Association.

Frank was born August 6, 1914 in Strawn the son of Immanuel and Olga Frances Doebler Schmidt. He married Pearl Winterland on January 9, 1943. She survives in Fairbury.

Also surviving are two daughters, Betty J. Schmidt, Beardstown; Patti L. (Patrick) Roach, Kankakee; one son Gerald (Nicole) Schmidt, Longmont, CO.; four grandchildren, Scott (Rona) Schmidt, Traci (Mike) Nelson, Kevin (Jessica) Roach, Kelli Roach; and five great grandchildren.

He is preceded by three brothers and one sister.

Frank and his siblings grew up on a farm. When he was 16 or 17 years old, he left the farm and got a job at Hicksatomic as a gas station attendant. He worked there until he went into the service at 29 years of age.

Frank was stationed in the state of Washington for 3 ½ years. While in the Army he spent some time in India and Burma until the end of WWII. After his discharge from the service, Frank resumed his job with Hicksatomic. He gradually was promoted to a supervisory position and his job was to visit the 20 gas stations owned by C.W. Hicks. Frank worked for C.W. Hicks for 50 years.

The Schmidt's enjoyed traveling and visiting many of the states in the USA. His hobbies included reading and gardening. He also exercised a lot and rode his bike at least 5 miles a day. Frank was a member of the Apostolic Christian Church. He also belonged to the American Legion.