The funeral service for George Bernard Schmidt of 110 Arrowhead Road, Emmons, will be at 2 p.m. today at St. Theodore Catholic Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. LaVern Trocinski will officiate. Interment will be in St. Theodore Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7:30 p.m. today at the Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church. A prayer service will be 7 p.m. today at the Bonnerup Funeral Service.

George died Saturday, Jan. 18, 2003, at his home. He was 78 years old.

George was born Jan. 24, 1924, at Walters to Joseph F. and Catherine Schmidt. He married Nettie Bell Warren on Nov. 28, 1945, and they had six children. He married Henrietta Seedorf on May 19, 1973 at the Little Brown Church, Nashua, Iowa. George went to country schools through the eighth grade and one year of high school at Rose Creek. He farmed from 1944-1954 in the Rose Creek and Grand Meadow area. He then moved to Austin in 1954 and worked at the Glass Shop as a glazier; then he worked for Larry’s Glass, St. Paul; moved to Madison, Wis., and worked for Bob Cooper Glass from 1956-1958; George moved back to Austin and was a partner with his brother at the Glass Shop until 1966 when he started Smitty’s Glass and Lock Service in Albert Lea and owned and operated it from 1966-1994 when he retired. George moved to Emmons in 1977. He was a member of St. Theodore Catholic Church and a member for the last 20 years of St. James Catholic Church, Twin Lakes, and served on their church board. George was active in numerous Albert Lea Civic Organizations including the Knights of Columbus, Eagles, Moose, and Elks.. He loved to fish, hunt, travel, and for 15 years spending winters in Texas.

George is survived by his wife: Henrietta Schmidt; six children: Steven B. Schmidt and his wife Cathy of New Brighton, Minn., Helen M. Lee and her husband Richard of Farmington, Minn., Frederick J. Schmidt and his wife DeLoyce of Austin, Victoria L. Helland of Austin, and Donald J. Schmidt of Austin; step daughter, Dawn Diemer and her husband Dan of Emmons; step son, Cleon Seedorf of Elma, Iowa; 10 grandchildren; three step grandchildren;

15 great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters: Bernard Schmidt of Owatonna, Catherine Jenkins of Seattle, Wash., Alice Bulson of Minneapolis, Tony Schmidt of Austin, Theresa Heimerman of Blooming Prairie, Rosie Meyerhoffer of Osage, Iowa, and Dorothy Swehla of Prescott, Ariz.; and sister-in-law, LaVonne Wegner of Wells.

George was preceded in death by his parents; son, Michael George Schmidt, in 1966; sister, Marie Theissen; and brothers: Carl and Joseph Schmidt.