RIP grandpa

August 18 was a sad day in our family.  My grandpa Eugene Schmidt went to heaven.  Grandpa was a hardworking, loving, family man.  He holds a special place in my heart because he was an amazing father figure to me.  He showed me what it meant to there for your family.  He will be missed. I  Love you grandpa!!

The days before grandpa's passing we all surrounded him and prayed for him and loved him.  He went quick and peacefully.  After saying good bye I was driving through the country thinking about what a great farmer grandpa was.  A song came on the Radio "God is on the Move"  I just knew at that moment God was going to get Grandpa.  Within the hour I got the call that he had passed.  After his funeral Lauren and I were driving home together.  It was raining but really sunny too.  It kind of felt surreal. As we came into Peoria Lauren said, "look mom a rainbow"  It was the most beautiful and bright rainbow I had ever seen.  It was grandpa saying he's where he needs to be....in heaven.  As we came into Bloomington I saw another small one and pointed it out to Lauren she said "that must be grandpa making sure we got home safe."

Mcdonald Funeral Home Obituary

STERLING – Eugene "Jiggs" Schmidt, died Monday April 18, 2016 at CGH Medical center in Sterling. Jiggs was born on June 8, 1929 the son of Charles and Clara (Hurst) Schmidt. He attended and graduated from Manlius High School , lettering in basketball, football and track. He married his high school sweetheart, Genevieve "Ginny" Dahl on January 29, 1950. He started his married life farming in the Manlius area and then moved to Rock Falls / Sterling in 1955 to work at Bun Austin Chevrolet as a car salesman. He retired from there in 1991 as sales manager. In his retirement he farmed and continued working in the car industry by attending car auctions and helping his children and grandchildren with the cars. He enjoyed boating, golfing, playing pinochle and traveling with his wife and attending all family events. He was an active member of St. John Ev. Lutheran Church in Sterling for over 60 years. He was a wonderful and wise husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather and will be forever remembered with love and smiles by all who were blessed to know him. He is survived by his wife, Genevieve; and their three children: Susan Brumme of Bloomington, Rodney (Joan) Schmidt of Loves Park and Michael (Kathy) Schmidt of Sterling; 6 grandchildren: Amy (Mike) Siebert, Kim (Craig) Stille, Max (Jillyan) Schmidt, Amber (Justin) Smith, Cora (Dennis) Whitmire, Adam (Nicki) Schmidt; 11 great grandchildren He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Annevieve and his brother Conrad. Visitation will be held on Thursday April 21, 2016 from 10 – 11 AM at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church in Sterling. The funeral will follow at 11 AM with the Reverend Mark Oehlert officiating. Burial will be held at a later date. Arrangements by McDonald Funeral Home & Crematory. Memorials in his memory to St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, Sterling.