GAYLORD–Darrel Dean Schmidt, 84, of Gaylord MN, passed away peacefully, with his family by his side, on February 8, 2024 at Bayside Manor after a short battle with cancer.

Darrel was born January 17, 1940, in Winthrop, MN to Frederick & Emma (Messner) Schmidt. He went to school in Winthrop MN. Darrel married Darlene Mary (Carlson) on October 31, 1959 at the Lutheran Church in New Sweden MN.

He was an entrepreneur who owned and operated several businesses before becoming an over the road truck driver for 35 years and retiring from Kraft Trucking Service.

Darrel’s faith was very important to him. He was a member of the Apostolic Christian Church in Winthrop, where he served as a Sunday School teacher for a few years.

An avid hunter and fisherman, he especially enjoyed fishing in Canada with his brother-in-law. Darrel loved spending time with his children and grandchildren & always lifted others up with his contagious laughter and joking nature.

Darrel is survived by his wife Darlene, his children Denise (Michael) Holloway of Bella Vista AR, Dennis of Sandstone MN, Doreen (Allan) Guggisberg of Lafayette MN, Derrick (Janell) of Lynchburg VA, 10 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law Vera (Kenneth) Schmidt, Mary Ann (Merlin) Berte, Betty (Richard) Wirtz, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his granddaughter, Amber Schmidt, all his siblings and most of their spouses:

Caroline (Clayton) Overson, Ethel (Joe) Bednarski, Eli, Orville (Beatrice), Alvin “Swede” (Delores), Arthur (Alma), Delbert (Jeanette), Donald (Cleo), Lester “Skip”(Shirley), Elmer “Doc” (Hazel), Eugene (Ella Mae), Richard, Merlin, & Kenneth.

Visitation will be from 1:00-4:00 p.m., Sunday, February 11th at Minnesota Valley Funeral Home – NORTH Chapel in New Ulm, MN. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, February 12th at Apostolic Christian Church in Winthrop with viewing from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Winthrop Cemetery following.

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