Thomas Robert Schmidt was born on November 15, 1942 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the eldest child of Ralph and Edith Schmidt. Ralph and Edith moved their young family, Tom and his younger brother John, to start a new life in Silverton, Oregon in 1946.

Tom spent his school years in Silverton and went on to attended Willamette University. He married Carole Ardell Slentz in 1961 and had four children, Peter, Heather, Eric, and Evan Schmidt. They moved the family to Roseburg, Oregon and bought an established business, Mid Oregon Printing.

Tom married Joan Marie Kuhnhenn in 1971. Joan had a daughter Anne from a previous marriage. Tom and Joan worked side by side at their business for nearly 50 years. Their marriage lasted for 48 years until the passing of Joan in 2019.

Tom loved geology, mining, good books, music, and exploring the back roads of Oregon. He and Joan enjoyed getting away to Yreka, California to an old mining cabin and later a little claim in Wolf Creek, southern Oregon. Anyone was invited who wanted to come along.  It wasn't uncommon to be gifted a gold pan or get an in-depth geological explanation of the landscape you were in. The radio show Prairie Home Companion was a regular sound in and outside the house usually playing on far too many devices according to his wife Joan. You could count on Tom using family get togethers for handing out copies of jokes and articles of interest. Tom and Joan also loved going to Oktoberfest in Mt. Angel to celebrate and see his huge family living in the area.

Tom passed away on the morning of July 10, 2024, at 81 years of age. He is survived by his sisters Carrell DeShaw, Linda Anderson, Kathy Hicks, and Cindy Scott. He is also survived by his children and their spouses Peter and Philis Schmidt, Heather and Michael Miller, Eric and Jodi Schmidt, Evan and Trudi Schmidt, Anne and Richard Kastanias, 10 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren. Tom will be greatly missed.

Our heartfelt thanks to all the caregivers at The Springs at Willowcreek and Serenity Hospice for all the compassionate care given to Tom.