Eugene "Gene" J. Schmidt

Passed away on Monday, December 13, 2021 at the age of 81. Dear father of Bobbie Reyes (Tracy Ellison), Michelle (Josiah) Casby and Michael (Alissa) Schmidt; loving grandfather of Ryleigh Jean; longtime significant other of My Phuong Huynh and father figure to Eric An Huynh; dear brother of Robert (Kathy) Schmidt; uncle, cousin and friend. Preceded in death by his parents, Oscar John Schmidt and Emma Mae DuFrenne.

Eugene was born in Prairie du Rocher, Illinois and a 1958 graduate of Red Bud High School. While serving in Vietnam he was an Army Chief Warrant Officer with the 224th Aviation Battalion and an aviator in the Battalion’s 146th Aviation Company.

Eugene was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Air Medal w/33 OLC and the National Defense Service Medal. He then spent his career as a Pilot at United Airlines.

SERVICE: Memorial Visitation Saturday, December 18th from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary, 6464 Chippewa St. at Watson with a Memorial Service to follow at 3:00 pm with Full Military Honors.

Please leave a favorite memory of Gene for his family to cherish at the "Add a Memory" link below.