William Robert Schmidt's Obituary
William Robert Schmidt, 67, of Kailua, HI passed away February 18, 2014, in Kaneohe.
Born in Aurora, Illinois in 1947, William, who was known as Bill, was the eldest of 5 children born to Robert Francis and Barbara Bertram Schmidt. Raised in Elgin, Illinois, he attended St. Edward Central Catholic High School and went on to receive his BA degree in Accounting in 1968 from The University of Notre Dame.
He married Claudia Neely in 1968 in Augusta, Georgia. They entered the Peace Corps that same year and served for three years on the island of Moen, Truk (Chuuk State), Federated States of Micronesia. Bill later took a position with the government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, spending a total of 10 years in the region. Bill’s two sons, Nathan Gabriel and Daniel Robert, were born in Saipan during this time.
In 1978, Bill joined Matson Navigation Company as an industrial relations manager. In 1981, he transferred to operations and shifted his focus to developing computer programs and brought innovative and industry-leading solutions to Matson. After a 30-year career with Matson, Inc., Bill retired as the operational systems director in Hawaii.
In 1999, he was married to Janice Schmidt in Kaneohe, Hawaii. Together they ran the Cozy Cat Lodge, a luxury boarding facility for cats, which Bill built in their home in Kailua. Bill was a 10-year member of The Theosophical Society in America through which he defined his spirituality, lifestyle and compassion for all forms of life. He was also an active member of the Windward Orchid Society for 6 years. Bill was an avid orchid enthusiast who built two extensive greenhouses at his home. Growing and caring for the orchids and watching as each came into bloom was a great source of joy and comfort for him in recent years.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Thomas James; and sister-in-law, Teresa Koshiol Schmidt.
Survivors include his wife, Jan; sons Nathan (Sibyl) of Tokyo, and Daniel (Pua) of Pennsylvania; brother Richard Bertram Schmidt of Illinois, sister Mary Lou Richerson (Russell) of Arizona, and sister Patricia Ann Schmidt of Alabama; stepdaughters Lynne Nonaka (Nathan) and Leinani Cambra (Keli’i); and grandchildren Daphne Schmidt, Chelsie Kaleiwahea, Nicole and Tyler Nonaka, Isley Busch, Iyden, Isis and Iymara Cambra.
His visitation will be held 5:30-6:30P.M., Monday March 3, 2014 at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary; with services to begin at 6:30p.m.
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