GEORGE DONALD "DON" SCHMIDT, beloved husband of Esther Schmidt of Barons, AB, passed away at Edith Cavell Care Centre on Friday, October 4, 2019 at the age of 81 years.

Besides his loving wife, Don is survived by his three children and 12 grandchildren; Judy Wardale of Calgary and her children, Jessi and Sean; Gary (Lori) Schmidt of Abbotsford, BC and their children, Laurelyn, Stefani, Katya and Donnell; Bob (Tanalynn) Schmidt of Calgary and his children, Chris, Branden, Ceilidh and Ryan; as well as his two stepsons, Scott (Tiela) Dunn and Kurt Dunn, all of Lethbridge. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents, Adam & Katie Schmidt, his sister, Helen Tober, and his first wife, Loreen Schmidt.

Don was born Kenneth Eugene Thompson and was adopted by Adam & Katie Schmidt prior to his first birthday. He was raised in a German farming community near Champion, AB. In 1956, he married Loreen Schawalder of Lethbridge and moved to a farm near Vulcan to raise his three children.

Don was always a salesman at heart and left farming for a long career in real estate and car sales, beginning in Vulcan and branching out to Lethbridge, Okotoks and Calgary. He was also an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing throughout his entire life.

In 1992, two years after Loreen passed away, Don married Esther Oslansky of Lethbridge. They managed a mobile home park in Raymond together for many years before retiring to Barons where they lived until Don's passing.

A Graveside Service will be held at MOUNTAIN VIEW FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY, 1605 - 100 Street SE, Calgary, AB on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at 1:00 P.M. with Patrick Siedlecki officiating.