Obituary of Lawrence Schmidt

August 1, 1955 – July 12, 2018 There are no words that can describe the enormity of our loss. On July 12, 2018, this world lost one of its best humans. Lawrence lived in the world with kindness, an unwavering steadiness, joy, depth, humour, humility, curiosity, calm, and true goodness. As his children, we’ve remarked that we know no other person who was so universally well liked, based purely on his genuine goodness. We went to him with questions, concerns, and life updates and he always had a way of responding that brought comfort, clarity with an added touch of his gentle goofiness. Lawrence, full of youth and vitality, left this world suddenly at the age of 62, without any warning, in a moment of joy while playing at the beach at Emma Lake. While in the water with his wife and soul mate, Betty, and grandson, Orion, Lawrence experienced a sudden cardiac incident. Betty and Orion, along with kind strangers and, later, emergency response workers, tried to revive Lawrence, but he had died almost immediately with a heart full of joy and love. We believe Lawrence suffered no pain, but we are devastated and suffering, a new world without our Lawrence; our dad. Lawrence read the obituaries each day as part of his reflection on the grace and value and brevity of life. Lawrence believed that all life has value and he honoured this in so many ways. Lawrence’s own life was multifaceted and full. He filled it with service to others – as husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, friend, teacher, and community volunteer. Lawrence’s steady nature and true goodness was a gift to all people whose lives he touched. For him, family was always central. Lawrence was born on August 1, 1955 in Rosthern, SK, to his kind and gentle parents Ed and Trudy Schmidt (Epp). He was a baby brother to Kathy (Gerhard Luitjens), and a big brother to Lois (Carl DeGurse) and Lloyd (Cheryl Schmidt). Grounded in the values of his Mennonite family, he grew up a prairie boy, living primarily in Rosthern, but spending some years in Swift Current SK and Winkler MB. His family returned to Rosthern for his high school years, where he graduated grade 12 from Rosthern Junior College. His relationships at RJC offered life long connections and wonderful friends. His experiences and family history of attending RJC would later inspire his daughters to attend there too. Lawrence had a mischievous, fun nature and enjoyed playing hockey along with other sports. His love of making music didn’t develop until he was settled into his adult life—and love music he did! Lawrence attended the University of Saskatchewan, first for an education degree and later in life for a graduate degree to advance his knowledge. Lawrence was a teacher in Porcupine Plain SK for the majority of his career. There, he was involved with local boards and utilized his lifeguard training to help open and run the town’s swimming pool. He loved teaching so much that in retirement he returned to the classroom as a substitute—and his students loved him! Through this work, his steady grace and vast knowledge, he helped to shape many young lives. He remained a life-long learner and, when called upon him, shared his knowledge with humility. Lawrence’s life journey twisted and turned. With his first wife Barbara, their daughter Laura (Schmidt), came into his life. Laura was his treasure and his heart. They continued to raise Laura separately and intentionally in Porcupine Plain. Lawrence met Betty on December 2, 2000. They soon knew they were soul mates and completely in love. They committed to each others families and entered into a new, beautiful shared life adventure. After moving to Greenwater Lake, Lawrence found complete home and comfort in a new relationship with Betty Rudachyk and her children (Chris & Michelle Cleland). Our two families blended beautifully and became one Family of Five when Lawrence and Betty married on December 31, 2001 in Saskatoon. Lawrence’s family now being Betty, Laura, Michelle, and Chris, made a home in a beautiful log cabin in the boreal forest at Greenwater Lake Provincial Park. Chris and Michelle found a father in Lawrence, and they became his children and treasures equal to Laura. Lawrence and Laura were fully enveloped into Betty’s family of Ukrainian sisters, brother and extended family, and Lawrence’s family embraced Betty, Chris & Michelle completely. Lawrence enjoyed lake life to the fullest: Canoeing, walking, golfing, biking, pontoon boating, mushroom and berry picking, campfires, and barbeques (and even cleaning up the cans that littered the ditches). He enjoyed everything about lake life, and carried out his daily tasks with willing dedication: Chopping and stacking wood for our wood heated home, hauling water, shoveling our three decks, snow blowing, and making sure that any passersby were able to carry on their journey (we lived on a steep hill with a beautiful view, that made for a tricky journey for unsuspecting motorists). Lawrence was true carer and engaged more than equally in all that it takes to have a family and a home: He was the laundry man, recycler, composter, gardener, sous and grill chef, and more. Lawrence and Betty brought music to Greenwater Lake through hosting monthly folk concerts at their home, and brought humour and adventure into daily life for themselves and their friends. Lawrence and Betty’s adventures with their grandson Orion (Chris) started when they lived at Greenwater Lake, and continued after they moved to Rosthern. Lawrence was a fully engaged grandparent, active in Orion’s daily life. Lawrence and Betty did much to support Chris and Orion, and made countless trips to BC to be active in their lives. His love for Orion was huge. He said that having the ability to grandparent Orion was one of the greatest gifts in his life. After Lawrence and Betty retired, they transitioned back to Rosthern (Lawrence’s home town) and recreated a warm and welcoming family home. As empty nesters, they took great comfort in spending time together, enjoying and savoring everyday adventures. In retirement, they shared a love for travelling and adventure: Canada from coast to coast, Croatia, Montenegro, Scotland, Portugal (a two time favourite), Spain, Mexico, Cuba and the States. In the weeks before his death, they had begun making plans for a volunteer trip to China. Lawrence carried on the living legacy of his mother and father and had joy and quiet pride in helping his kids, Chris & Orion (Slocan BC), Michelle & Thomas (Saskatoon SK), and Laura & Matt (Hamilton ON) to fix, renovate, and improve their properties, flying or driving out to help with major renovation projects. Lawrence had a brain for fixing and building. He was always ‘just a phone call away’ for advice and guidance. He also developed an appreciation for the wellness benefits of essential oils and jumped in with both feet to build a Young Living Essential Oils business with Betty. He was an active community member in Rosthern: a volunteer and board member for the Rosthern Food Bank and Learning Centre; the board chair for Prairie Meadow Place; an active volunteer at Rosthern Mennonite Church; the MCC Clothes Basket and the Station Arts Centre. He also enjoyed his work with Habitat for Humanity. With all his community endeavours, spending time with Betty and family, remained his true pleasure and priority. Watching and nurturing his adult children and grandson was his greatest joy. Lawrence and Betty had a relationship that was enviable and an amazing model for each of us. They were more than husband and wife, they were truly best friends and each others greatest cheerleader. They simply LOVED being together…the quiet moments and social events. They enjoyed hosting and throwing fun gatherings for family and friends, working together like a well oiled machine. They moved in sync: Music on, sipping wine and often dancing around the kitchen in between cutting vegetables! They held hands every day. They loved and cherished each other without restraint. Lawrence demonstrated his love in words and actions. We often poked fun at his focus on making plans, taking care of the logic of life—but we knew and we know that this was one of the many ways that Lawrence showed his love. He was completely present in each moment of life, but was calmly forward-looking and always helping us on our individual paths. This is how he anchored us. Lawrence’s death came quickly, but the way he lived his life has given us a legacy of guidance and insight into his wishes for us: Walk gently; be kind and curious; embrace, seek and create adventure; play; laugh; have integrity; work with commitment; plan and be organized; be spontaneous; love each other with words and actions, every day. Lawrence will be deeply missed by his parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and us. Lawrence was our rock, and through him, that steadfast energy and care will live on in us. Lawrence had a calming, anchoring presence for everyone. This calm coupled with vitality and humour, made him an amazing man. A ceremony and gathering to honour Lawrence’s life will be held at Rosthern Mennonite Church, Rosthern, SK on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made, in his name, to any of these organizations: Mennonite Central Committee, Rosthern Junior College Scholarship Fund, Good Neighbours Food Centre, Prairie Meadow Place or simply plant a tree in his memory. Arrangements are entrusted to Funk’s Funeral Home, Rosthern, SK (306-232-5245, http://www.funksfuneralhome.ca). *********** “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. I expect to pass through this world but once.”