Warren Harry “Corny” Schmidt, age 88, passed away unexpectedly doing what he loved the most, which was watching the races at the Shawano Speedway on Saturday May 4, 2024. Corny was born on September 23, 1935, in Gresham, Wisconsin to the late Raymond and Laura (Ready) Schmidt, Sr.. He grew up and started school in the Gresham area, before the family moved to the Leopolis area in 1944 and continued schooling at the Leopolis Grade School. Corny attended Marion High School and played football for a couple of years to earn his letter and left in his senior year to join the United States Navy. Corny received his diploma in 2004 from Marion High School.
In January of 1953, Corny joined the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict where he served about four years on different Naval ships out of Norfolk, Virginia and receiving his honorable discharge. In the fall of 1956, he returned to Leopolis to begin a life-long truck driving career as his dad had taken over the milk hauling routes in the area. Before tank trucks took over the milking business; they would work 16-to-17-hour days lugging milk cans around. During the winters months they had to carry them through snow drifts, dragging them from the barn out to the road so the truck wouldn’t get stuck in the farmers’ driveway.
Corny’s baseball career began at about age 15, riding along with his Hall of Fame brother-in-law, Allen “Swampy” Steinke to ball games. He would help as a batboy and even got to play right field in a game occasionally when they were short on players. Corny can remember hitting a home run in Bowler, he hit it hard past the infield and ran like hell; they had no outfield fence! In his later years, you’d find him at the ballpark, this time helping as a base umpire which in turn led to following his children and grandchildren playing the game, he used to umpire from the grandstand when they played. The Leopolis Baseball Club was honored to induct Corny into the Leopolis Baseball Hall of Fame. In his spare time, Corny spent the last 50 years tending bar somewhere, along with owning and running “Corny’s Corner Bar” for about 20 of those years with his former wife Gayle and helped raise several children. He worked at Stang Oil, Dey Inc. and road construction as a builder.
Corny had racing in his blood racing for 13 years in Shawano, Antigo and Monster Hall. He remembered spending almost every summer Saturday night at the Shawano Speedway between the years 1963 and 2004. Corny followed the same routine when each of his children got married, first to church and dinner, then to the track and back to the reception following the races. He was a flagman in Shawano and at the Antigo ESPN Off-Road Racetrack series for 8 years. Corny helped start the Ice Racing Clubs in Tilleda and Caroline.
Corny has been a Shawano County Fair Board Director, President and life member of the agriculture society, board member of the Deer Hunters Clubs in Gresham, Marion and Shawano Chapter and part of the Leopolis Fish and Game. He is past commander and lifetime member of both the Caroline American Legion Post 456, Shawano DAV and the Wisconsin Deer Hunter Woods Land Chapter. Corny was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and served on the church board during the back parking lot project.
You could always find Corny behind the wheel of a big rig for Oak Grove Dairy in Pella, driving Jerry’s manure truck or moving fair rides around the Midwest for Rainbow Valley Rides. He enjoyed watching the grandchildren’s sporting events, the races, Bulldog baseball games, deer and pheasant hunting and playing cards down at the Orlies Bar! In the famous words of Corny “It’s only a dollar!”
On April 19, 2024, Corny was united in marriage to Esther (Huntington) Schutt at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Corny is survived by his wife, Esther; children, Maureen (Bob) Roskoski, Joann (Stan) Soltis, Raymond (Bobbi) Schmidt, James (Janet) Schmidt, Eileen Schmidt, Eric (Ealina) Schmidt and Tyler (Heather) Schmidt; 15 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; siblings, Donna Jeager, Jim Schmidt and Bob Schmidt; and sister-in-law, Ruby Schmidt. He is further survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Corny is preceded in death by his siblings, Jack Schmidt, Raymond Schmidt, Jr. and Mary Steinke; and parents, Ray, Sr. and Laura.
A funeral service for Corny will be held at 11:00 am on Friday May 17, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Leopolis. Visitation will be held on Thursday May 16, 2024, at Swedberg Funeral Home in Shawano from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm then again on Friday at the church from 9:30 am until the time of service. Military honors by Caroline Legion Post 456 at the church following services.
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