A Remarkable Man.

        Lothar was born 3 years after World War II ended; he and his family left Germany on the Rosa Kulm, a converted freighter, and arrived at Pier 21, Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1953. They journeyed on, by train, to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where they lived from then on. He received his elementary education at Wolseley and Principal Sparling Schools in Winnipeg, and his high school education at Daniel McIntyre, in Winnipeg.   He graduated from university in 1973 and began teaching Geography at Garden Valley Collegiate in Winkler, Manitoba.

1969 was his summer of love. He met the love of his life, Irene Redekopp, at University of Manitoba. After an adventure filled courtship, they married in 1972.

         Lothar and Irene made Morden their home. Their first child, Jeffrey, was born in 1974 in Morden and 16 months later, Jennifer was born. The family unit was complete! As Lothar said, "we've replaced ourselves on this earth."

        Lothar taught at Garden Valley Collegiate and found a new love - rocks! Earth formations! Tectonic plates! The Canadian Shield!

        In 1979, the family left for a 3-year MCC assignment in Grenada, West Indies. The Grenadian Revolution was in full swing. The 3 years in Grenada changed Lothar's views of culture, religion, politics forever. He also fell in love again. Completely. Utterly. He had discovered the ocean, the tremendous wealth of teeming life forms under the rippling turquoise water surface. He discovered the tropical rainforest, the open air markets of Grenada, the spices, the heady aroma of lime fresh off of the tree, cinnamon bark, mangos, coconuts, and much much  more. He also found a new addition to his life family - his students and colleagues at St Rose in Gouyave, and above all, Todd and Patti Malenke. Todd and Lothar were like two 16-year-old Tom Sawyers on a seemingly endless adventure.

        In 1982, Lothar and Irene's MCC assignment came to an end. Irene had to physically drag him from the porch to the waiting car to fly back to Canada. He did not want to leave Grenada.

        He resumed teaching in the Garden Valley school Division.

        His best professional years were his last years in teaching, when he taught Junior High Art and German at Winkler Elementary. He retired in 2003.

        His home at The Willows, just outside of Morden, was in a dream neighbourhood. What more could he ask? Living beside the valley and the Dead Horse Creek, having the most wonderful neighbours one can imagine, adventures in the woods waiting outside his door every day, a devoted dog who would faithfully go log- walking with him - well, if you can't live beside the sea in Grenada, the Willows is pretty darn good.

        Lothar was a staunch supporter of Pembina Fellowship, the house church he and Irene attend. He loved the church. Recently, when asked why he attended there, he said, "what choice was there?" For him it was PF or nothing.

        Lothar did not talk much about his deep and simple faith. But it shone through in the way he conducted his life, in his sincere and direct approach to life, his love of all things good, happy and constructive. It also was obvious in his anger and disgust with war and with violence. It also shone through as he fought with Lyme disease.

        Lothar went on many trips - to Germany on educational trips, visited his brother Roland in Japan, drove new RVs to their destinations, visited his children in Banff, Calgary, Vancouver and London, frequented Cuba a number of times, spent time in St Lucia, experienced the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, and returned to Grenada 3 times. But his dream vacation was to take his family back to Grenada all together, which they did at Christmas in 2008. Lothar was in absolute "Grenada glory"!

        Lothar loved all things German, as he loved to draw and paint.  His students were often his subject as he sketched. His tremendous and quirky creativity oozed out of every pore. He was never happier than when he was designing or creating something.

        Lothar was bit by an insect in 2005. It was an ugly-looking bite. The doctor did not know what it was. He became sick very quickly, and had all the classic Lyme symptoms. This was the beginning of the end. After a heroic battle, his body was consumed and wasted by the disease, and gave out the morning of April 4. he died at home in bed. If Lothar could have conquered Lyme with sheer determination, he would have. Ever positive and hopeful, he withstood the onslaught of enormous fatigue, chronic pain and inflammation, headaches, muscle and heart pain, and a rapidly decreasing lung capacity.

         Lothar Schmidt was a man for all men. He loved people. He lived his life on his own conditions. His sense of humour and his love of 60's and 70's music is legendary.

        Lothar would say, "Lighten up! Let's go do something!"

        He has been the light of our lives, and has ignited our life force with his light. May the flame be passed on, from light to light, so that the woods and meadows and all those with willing hearts feel the warmth and hope. May the light ripple out forever. As God takes his son back into his arms, may the radiance burn brightly in all of us.

        Lothar was predeacesed by his mother, Wally Schmidt, and his father, Waldemar Schmidt.

        He is survived by his wife, Irene, Jeff, Julie, Jael and Jette Stewart Schmidt, Jenny and Leon Schmidt-White, his brother Jurgen and wife Anita Schmidt, Roland Schmidt, Step-mother Victoria Schmidt, as well as many nieces and nephews who will sorely miss their Uncle Lumpy.

        His dog, Isabel, is still waiting to herd deer as she rides the wind beside Lothar on his bicycle.

  Thank you to Pembina Fellowship for being committed and intentional in your love for Lothar. Thank you to family for standing by us. Thank you to our neighbours and friends who love him so dearly. Thank you to the doctors and nurses who were so kind to Lothar. Above all, thanks to our God, who has always walked beside us, and will continue to keep us in the palm of his hand. One day we will meet again.

      "It's tail wagging time!" ~Lothar Schmidt

Donations may be made to:

1. Murakami Centre for Lyme, Box 1230 Hope, B.C. V0X 1L0 604-859-9922.     Dr. E. Murakami Centre for Lyme Research, Education & Assistance Society
2. Lothar Schmidt Art Award Fund,c/o Garden Valley Collegiate, 736 Main St. Winkler, MB R6W 4C8 204-325-8008.