Obituary of Russell Harris Schmidt

Russell H. Schmidt, 82 Retired SCSU Professor February 18, 1933 - July 10, 2015 Russell H. Schmidt, St. Cloud, died July 10, at the St. Cloud Hospital. He was born in Winona, Minnesota, on February 18, 1933 to John G. and Ruth (Harris) Schmidt. As a youth he earned the Eagle Scout Badge and served as Chief of the school patrol crossing guard on which he participated for five years. He graduated from Winona high School in 1951 where he played football (co-captain) and hockey in a newly established program. He earned a Bachelors Degree from Winona State College in 1955 where he was a Purple Key honor student, class vice-president, and a four-year letterman in football. He was a work-study assistant in the chemistry-physics laboratories. He enlisted in the Army and was stationed at Headquarters USAREUR G2 in Heidelberg, Germany. While there he married Elizabeth Grass of Owatonna, Minnesota in 1956. They worked, lived there, and traveled extensively in Europe until their return to the United States in 1957. Russ taught high school science and math and coached football at Plainview High School in Minnesota. He then became a teaching assistant at UMD in 1958 and the University of Colorado in 1959. He returned as a math instructor at Winona State in 1960. From 1961- 1966 he was employed as a research scientist working on semiconductor devices at Honeywell Research Center in Hopkins and then Control Data in Bloomington. During this time he earned is Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. In 1966, he received a Graduate Fellowship in Educational Research at the University of Florida resulting in a Doctorate Degree in 1968. He joined the Central Minnesota Educational Research and Development Council and later the faculty of St. Cloud State University. He taught 29 years in the Teacher Development Department, serving one term as Chairperson. He especially enjoyed advising and serving on Master's Degree thesis research committees. He often served as a consultant to school on innovative educational programs as an evaluation and validation specialist. Russ had a life-long love of the water. He enjoyed boating and water activities on the Mississippi River in Winona and boating, sailing, water skiing at the family cabin on Lake Alexander for the last 45 years. When the water turned to ice, Russ turned to coaching youth hockey, and watching his family participate in hockey, football, basketball, swimming and other sports. He enjoyed playing hockey from high school age until the age of 80, participating with Oldtimers and other groups for exercise. Survivors include his wife Elizabeth, St. Cloud; his children John (Tammy Brook) of St. Cloud; Paul (Cheri) of Parker, CO; Jeff (Becky) or Burnsville; Greg (Tracy) of West Saint Paul; Kate of Eagan; Steve (Barb McMorris) of Edina; and eleven grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers George of Bensenville, IL; James (Jean) of Winona and Woodstock, VA; three nephews; brother-in-law Claud Wilken of Eagan; sisters-in-law Shirley Grass of Owatonna, and Peg Grass of Sacremento, California. At his request, there will be no scheduled funeral services. A private family burial will be held at Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights.