1931-2017
Died peacefully in his sleep at home on Tuesday, July 11, 2017. He had suffered for several years from osteoarthritis and congestive heart failure. He was predeceased by his first wife of 35 years (Jacquie McLaren). Survived by his second wife of 25 years, Nikki (Schoemaker); his sister Bonnie Lokken; his daughters Brenda J. Chytracek (husband Mark, predeceased), Tami L. Tran; Jessica A. Brett (husband Tristan) and son Albert J. Schoemaker, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Frank was born and raised in Prophetstown Illinois. He received his B.A. in 1954 from Midland Lutheran College in Freemont, Nebraska and his B.D. in 1958 from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California. Frank ministered in the US for two years before being called to Canada as a mission Pastor in 1961. He remained in Canada and became a Canadian citizen in 1971. Rev.Schmitt was a Pastor of six parishes in his 50 plus years of ministry, and was instrumental in starting and/or rejuvenating several of these same parishes. After retirement from full-time Ministry with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada in 1993, Rev. Schmitt continued to serve for fifteen years as a part time and supply pastor in several churches throughout BC. He also remained active in the Sunshine Coast community for several years, serving as chairman of the Board of the Sunshine Coast Association for Community Living and Arrowhead Centre Society, each for a period of three years.
Rev. Schmitt enjoyed the sports of softball, golf, fishing, and boating and especially enjoyed travelling in Mexico for many years with his wife and family. While vacationing in Mexico, he and Nikki volunteered many hours of work over the years to the Puerto Vallarta Down Syndrome Foundation. He also enjoyed writing in his retirement years and wrote a book of his childhood memories, plus a baseball and historical fiction (last two still to be revised and printed). He loved his family and spending time with them was for him very meaningful and enjoyable.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Rev. Schmitt on Wednesday, August 9 at 2 p.m. at Living Faith Lutheran Church, 4607 Whitaker Road, Sechelt. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rev. Schmitt’s honour to Living Faith Lutheran Church or Arrowhead Centre Society, 5554 Inlet Avenue, Sechelt, BC.