Jerome Schmidt Obituary, Death – On Thursday, January 19, 2023, Dr. Jerome A. Schmidt, 86 years old, of Pulaski, died away with his family by his side. In Spencer, Wisconsin, on January 30, 1936, Jerome Schmidt came into the world as the son of Andrew and Mary (Gebauer) Schmidt. Jerome received his high school diploma from Loyal in the year 1954. After that, he joined the military and was stationed in both Japan and Korea while serving in the United States Army. After receiving his discharge from the military, he went back to Loyal to work on the family farm. One year later, he started his lifelong career by enrolling in the pre-vet program at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls. On August 27, 1960, Jerome wed Karen Wichman, the girl he had been in love with since high school. After graduating with his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin in River Falls, he continued his education at the University of Minnesota and earned his doctorate in veterinary medicine in the year 1965.
After completing his education, Jerome went on to build a veterinarian clinic in Edgar, Wisconsin. In September of 1966, he was involved in a serious car accident that resulted in him breaking 23 bones and requiring lengthy rehabilitation both in the hospital and at home. He was able to go back to his practice, where he remained until the year 1991 when he retired. At that time, the couple uprooted their lives and went to the state of Missouri. However, it did not take him very long until his passion for animals compelled him to return to work. Jerome started a mobile practice for treating small animals, which he ran until the year 2017. In 2017, Doc and Karen made the decision to go back to Wisconsin, in order to be closer to their family.
His life has consistently included the presence of animals. On the farm in Edgar where Doc raised his family, there were more than 40 horses and various other types of cattle. Both Quarter and Paint show horses, including two horses that won world championships, were raised by Jerome and Karen. Their children had a wonderful time participating in horse shows on the summer weekends and learning about farm life. They spent their retirement years living on a 270-acre ranch in Missouri, where they raised a wide variety of animals, including Missouri Fox Trotters, cattle including Zebus, Watusi, and Italian Chianina, as well as New Zealand Booroola and Marino Sheep. Auctioneer and owner of Doc’s Auction Company, Doc was also an auctioneer. In addition to that, he was a judge at horse shows and served as president of the school board.
Karen, his wife of 62 years, is the only person who will remember Jerome after his passing. He is also survived by his three children: Jacqueline Bergquist (friend Mark Roberts), Oshkosh; Tammy Lipsey (Michael), Pulaski; and Jay Schmidt (Tammy), Edgar. He had six grandchildren: Jordyn, Kayla, Austin, Samantha, and Camryn to his credit, and he was very proud of all of them. In addition, he is survived by his brother, Andrew Schmidt, who is married to Faye; his sisters, Dorthy Ertl and Evelyn Schultz, who are both married to John Schultz; his sister-in-law, Judy Schmidt; and his brother-in-law, Larry Waldhauser, in addition to a large number of nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his siblings: a brother, Donald Schmidt, and a sister, Marie Waldhauser. His parents, Andrew and Mary, also passed away before him.