Evelyn Ann Schmidt

Evelyn Ann Schmidt of Crystal Lake, IL, born on February 22, 1926, in Arlington Heights, IL, to

Leona Engelking (Jahnke) and Edward Engelking, peacefully took her leave on August 13, 2024, after gracing this world with her warmth and wit for more than 98 years.

Known as Ev, Evie, or simply Grandma, Evelyn spent decades alongside her husband, Frank B. Schmidt — “Bop” to all who loved him — running the family business, Frank Schmidt Automotive, or the “Bop Shop” as it became known.

In the 1950’s and 60’s, Evelyn dedicated herself to raising her four daughters while leading a rich yet simple life. She supported their education and values by sending them to Saint Paul Lutheran Church and School in Mt. Prospect, IL.

Once the kids were grown and gone, Ev and Bop traveled widely. But the real thrill was still always closer to home. Saturday nights found them at the Bingo Hall, where they often won big. And they didn’t just return with outsized winnings, they brought back stories to enchant their grandkids, making a simple game sound so much cooler than it was.

Holidays — especially Christmas and Chicago Bears games — were grand affairs with spreads of food, grandchildren running to and fro, and Evelyn always at the center, creating memories that have stretched across generations.

She was a puzzle-solving dynamo, too, and though she never got to appear on Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy, she almost always left the TV contestants in the dust. A master of the crossword puzzle, she tackled them daily with the same precision. And always watching as she quietly outsmarted the world, were her cats Booger, Emmy Grace and the delightfully cranky Katy.

Evelyn is survived by her daughters Mary Lee Rishel, Susan Nihlean, and Bonny Schneider; son-in laws David Pitzele and Edward Schneider; along with her brother Ralph Engelking. Her legacy continues through her grandchildren Jayne, Jill, Brett, Brad, Julie, Jake, Cherise, Sarah, Christin, Jennifer, Ben, Matt, Zach, Greg, Heide, Joel, Jeff, and Bethany, countless great-grandchildren, and her nieces and nephews and their families.

She now rejoins her beloved Bop, her parents, her daughter Cynthia Plancon, sons-in-law Richard Nihlean, Bill Plancon, and Doug Rishel, her brother Edward Engelking, sister-in-law Jean Engelking, and great-grandchild Hannah Elders, all waiting with open arms.

A future inurnment will take place at Memory Gardens in Arlington Heights, IL, bringing Evelyn home to the place of her birth and completing the circle of life well-lived.

In lieu of flowers, Evelyn’s family kindly requests donations be made in her name to:

The Gentiva Foundation

www.gentivahs.com

Evelyn’s family is so appreciative of the care and compassion the Gentiva Foundation provided to her.