Paul William Schmidt

Paul William Schmidt, the son of Bernice Spies-Schmidt and Wilbert “Smitty” Schmidt, was born on Jan. 2, 1941, and died at the age of 78 on Sept. 13, 2019, at Union County Hospital Nursing Home in Anna, Illinois after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.  

Mr. Schmiedt is survived by his wife of 54 years, Nancy Jo Carrington-Schmidt of Dongola; a son John P. Schmidt (Rhonda) of Jonesboro; three grandsons, Aaron (Mindy), Jared and Daniel Schmidt; and three great-grandchildren, Autumn, Michael and Oliver Schmidt.  

Six of his nine siblings preceded him in death, while two brothers, Bill (Coette) of Redwood City, Calif., and David (Diane) Schmidt of Metamora, survive.

He competed and won second place at the 1958 Indiana Division AA high school state wrestling championship in the 145-pound weight class.

He graduated from Indiana University in 1972 with a bachelor of science degree in accounting. He completed his Certified Public Accountant license in 1979. He was a Partner in Charge with Kemper CPA Group in Carbondale and Anna until his retirement in 2003.  

Paul and Nancy formed Share and Care in 1978 as a local ministry to provide assistance for the residents of Southern Illinois.  

He served on the Dongola Unit School Board for a number of years.  

Paul and Nancy lived on their farm in Dongola since 1976, when they moved from Highland, Ind. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran and Dongola First Baptist Churches.

Funeral services were at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 6 miles south of Jonesboro, with the Rev. Nancy Jo Carrington-Schmidt and the Rev. Timothy Heinecke officiating.  

Memorials can be made to the charity of the donor’s choosing. 

To view the obituary and to leave online condolences for the family, visit www.rendlemanhilemanfh.com. 

Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro was in charge of arrangements.