Norma Jean Schmidt

It is with sorrowful hearts that the family of Norma Jean Schmidt, previously of Russell, MB, announces her passing, April 8, 2023, at the Langenburg Centennial Special Care Home at the age of 84 years.

Norma was born August 20, 1938, to Jacob and Minnie Wondrasek of Millwood, MB where she grew up on the family farm with her three siblings, Lila, Betty, and Wendell. She attended school in Millwood until Grade 9 and then went on to graduate high school in Russell, MB. After graduation she worked for a short time as a teller at the Royal Bank in Russell until she met and married Robert Schmidt from the Marchwell, SK district. After marrying June 7th, 1957, they moved to his family’s farm south of Marchwell where she became a farmer’s wife and a skilled homemaker who brought beauty, care, and compassion to everything she created and did. With a devoted interest in serving her family, community, and church she shared her diverse artistic talents and practical skills she had developed with others. These included such skills as sewing, handicrafts, homemaking, gardening, food preserving, and horticulture design. She generously contributed these skills while leading the local 4-H club, participating in many Lutheran Church activities, developing the Gopherville Gardens near Langenburg, and displaying her prize-winning flowers and vegetables in the Russell Horticulture Society’s show each year… all the while being a loving support to her husband and two children, Wendy and Darren… and years later, her three grandchildren, Naomi, Dorion and Saphira.

In quiet reflection Norma enjoyed bible study, writing, reading, and doing puzzles. For fun and entertainment Norma participated in such activities as curling, square dancing, playing piano and singing in choral groups when she had the opportunity. In her latter years, after leaving the farm, Norma was active in organizations and projects such as Russell’s Communities in Bloom, the Marchwell and Langenburg Districts’ History Books, and the Thrift Store at the Seniors Leisure Centre. Through her retirement years her home’s carefully designed flower beds, rose gardens and vegetables continued to gloriously bloom for many visitors to enjoy as well as provide home grown nutrition for her and Bob through the winter months.         

She was predeceased by her parents, Minnie and Jacob Wondrasek, her brother Wendell and her sister and brother-in-law, Lila and Frank Bily. Also predeceased by her in-law’s family, Jacob and Louise Schmidt, her brother and sister-in-law, Melvin and Trudy Schappert and her brother-in-law, Norman Schmidt.

She leaves to mourn, her husband Bob, her children Wendy (Pierre), Darren (Tammy) and her three grandchildren, Naomi (Ron), Dorion and Saphira as well as her sister Betty Berg, her sister-in-law and husband, Rena and Duane Tremaine and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Norma’s gentle spirit, humble demeanour and compassionate heart was felt by all those whom she shared her life with.  Her graceful presence is sadly missed by all who loved her. In the outer world, Norma’s legacy will continue to grow and flourish in the many gardens that she helped to design, plant, and nurture. Within each of our hearts she will continue to live while remembering how she touched our lives with her listening ear, her helping hand, and her kind, loving support.

We bid you adieu dear wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunty … friend. We grieve your physical presence, but we celebrate with you - knowing it was your time - for YOUR SOUL to soar into the arms of your Lord to forever sing in God’s Choir of Heavenly Angels. Your voice will forever whisper its loving presence within our hearts and minds.