Olga Schmeichel

Olga Schmeichel, 100, a long time resident of St. Joseph, entered into God’s presence on Sunday, April 29, 2007, in Westfield IN. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 A.M., on Thursday, May 3, 2007, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. James Myers of Living Christ Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will follow in Hickory Bluff Cemetery, Stevensville. Friends may visit with the family from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., on Wednesday, May 2, 2007, at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to Living Christ Lutheran Church in Plainfield IN. Friends may send the family a condolence message on-line or sign the guest book at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mrs. Schmeichel was born June 30, 1906 to Rudolf and Suzanna (Nadersanski) Walter in Russia. She came to the US in 1908 where she resided in North Dakota until 1947 when she married Edmund Schmeichel and then moved to Michigan. Olga had a tremendous love for her family and enjoyed traveling around the world with her husband. Her love for teaching children was an important part of her life. She graduated from Minot State Teachers College and taught school for 39 years beginning in one-room school houses, grade schools, high school, and college. She began teaching in Benton Harbor School System in 1949 at Seeley McCord and then Calvin Britain where she retired. Olga is survived by her daughter, Karen Kuiper of Benton Harbor; her son and daughter-in-law, Edmund D. & Sheryl Schmeichel of Westfield IN.; four grandchildren, Kim Upton of Benton Harbor, Kelly (Art) Jones of Stevensville, Chris (Shelly) Schmeichel of Noblesville IN, and LoriJo Schmeichel of Fishers IN; six great-grandchildren, Mindy & Eddie Kirby, Josh (Lizz) Smith, Shannon ( Kelsey) Smith, Nicole Smith, Courtni Schmeichel, and Tyler Schmeichel; six great-great-grandchildren, Tiffany Kirby, Aaron Kirby, Zachary Kirby, Kamren Smith, Taylor Schefield and Luke Schefield. Olga was preceded in death by her husband, Edmund Schmeichel; her brothers, Emil & Earl Walter; her sister, Amelia Schrag and her parents.