Cover photo for Capt. Gary W. Schmidt's Obituary
Capt. Gary W. Schmidt Profile Photo
1946 Capt. 2015

Capt. Gary W. Schmidt

September 22, 1946 — October 2, 2015

Great Lakes Capt. Gary W. Schmidt passed away, October 2, 2015, at home, after a three-year struggle with cancer.

Born September 22, 1946, on Washington Island, Door County, Wisconsin, he is the son of the late Conrad and Leone (Young) Schmidt. Gary grew up in Sturgeon Bay, graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School, spent four years in the U.S. Navy, and in 1972, went to work as a deckhand, mate and captain for Selvick Marine Towing out of Sturgeon Bay.

Sailing was his life, and his many certificates attest to that. His first Great Lakes Master’s license, Master of Uninspected Towing Vessel, was acquired in 1973 when he became a captain for Selvick Marine.

Gary’s other credentials included a Western Rivers License—Master of Towing for Uninspected Towing Vessels; an Inland License—Master of Towing; a Near Coastal License—Master of Towing; and a Great Lakes Uninspected Towing Vessel License—Master of Towing. As well, he was certified as an Able Bodied Seaman, and in ECPINS (Electronic Chart Precise Integerated Navigation Systems), and in the Global Maritime Distress Safety System, Class 1 and Class 7. He also had an Unlimited Radar Observer License.

Since 1973, he commanded tugs on the Great Lakes, and on Western Rivers including the Mississippi and the Illinois, from Minneapolis to Cairo, IL, and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to Lake Michigan.

In 2000, Gary became captain of the Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder, owned by the Interlake Steamship Company of Ohio. The Dorothy Ann is a 7,200 horsepower tug, dedicated to the barge Pathfinder. Capt. Schmidt explained all this and more about the vessel and its operation, and about his long career as a Great Lakes seaman in his book, “Real, Honest Sailing with a Great Lakes Captain,” which he co-authored with Warren Gerds, after his retirement from Interlake Steamship Company in 2014.

In 1973, he married Mary Pfotenhauer, of Green Bay. Gary is survived by his wife, Mary; their two children, Joseph and Katherine, both of Green Bay. He is further survived by his sister, Mari Lynn (Richard) Weidman, Sturgeon Bay; brothers, Dale (Sue) Schmidt, Conifer, CO, and Dan, Lyle, and Brian Schmidt, all of Sturgeon Bay; in-laws, Barbara (Peter) Korotev, Green Bay, Sue (Dale) Schmidt, Conifer, CO, Louise (Peter Cichowski) Pfotenhauer, Green Bay, Peter (Nancy) Pfotenhauer, Mineral Point, WI, Michael (Carole Stecker) Pfotenhauer, Houston, TX; cousins, Kathy (Warren) Gerds, Green Bay; and many nieces and nephews.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Conrad and Leone (Young) Schmidt; and brothers, Allen and Keith Schmidt.

Visitation at Malcore (East) Funeral Home, 701 N. Baird Street, Friday, Oct. 9, from 5-8pm. Visitation continues Saturday morning, Oct. 10, at the funeral home from 9am until the time of the service. Memorial service 11am, Saturday at the funeral home followed by military honors.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to Dr. Mitch Winkler and Green Bay Oncology, and Heartland Hospice, especially Heidi and Jen, for their tremendous care and compassion during his illness.

Donations may be made in Capt. Schmidt’s name to the:
Soo Locks Visitors Association,
312 W. Portage Avenue
Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
Phone: (906) 253-9290
or
Door County Maritime Museum
120 N. Madison Ave.
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235-3416
Phone: 920-743-5958
www.dcmm.org
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Capt. Gary W. Schmidt, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, October 9, 2015

5:00 - 8:00 pm (Central time)

Malcore Funeral Home & Crematory East

701 N Baird St, Green Bay, WI 54302

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