Lewis H. "Bud" Schmidt, 74, of Kewaskum, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008, at Hospice Home of Hope in Fond du Lac.

He was born on Oct. 28, 1933, in West Bend, the son of the late Louis and Gertrude (Blau) Schmidt.

Bud was a 1951 graduate of West Bend High School and served his country in the U.S. Army for two years.

He married Evelyn Spartz on Nov. 26, 1953, in Washington, and together they raised six children.

Bud was retired from A.O. Smith Co. in Milwaukee where he worked as a tool and dye maker.

He was the owner and operator of Schmidt Acres and provided horse drawn hayrides. Bud participated in the Circus World Museum parades in Milwaukee for many years with his horses.

On June 8, 2002, Bud was united in marriage to Karen Moersch in Potosi. The couple made their home in Potosi for three years before returning to the Kewaskum area.

Bud will fondly be remembered for his love of horses and farming.

Survivors include his wife, Karen; six children, Dean Schmidt of Campbellsport, W. Dan (Lisa) Schmidt of Oshkosh, Dawn McEwen of West Bend, Denise (Tom) Grudzielanek of Sheboygan, Darcell (Gilbert) Salm of Campbellsport and Deborah (Kevin) Rodenkirch of Kewaskum; five stepchildren, Chris (John) Harris of Kiel, Gary (Cindy) Lieffring of Lomira, Tim Lieffring of Watertown, Kate (Troy) Holzmann of Plymouth and Dan (Lisa) Lieffring of West Bend; a nephew, John "Jack" (Jean) Rieke of Kewaskum; a niece, Donna (Brian) Dowling of Oconomowoc; 17 grandchildren a great-granddaughter, 14 stepgrandchildren and three stepgreat-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Bud was preceded in death by a sister, Valeria Rieke; and a daughter-in-law, Laura Schmidt.

Cremation has taken place.

Graveside services, with military rites, will be held at 2 p.m., Monday at St. Matthias Catholic Cemetery in the town of Auburn.

The Miller Funeral Home in Kewaskum has been entrusted with Bud’s arrangements.

Additional information and guest book may be found at www.millermartinfh.com.