Howard Otto Fred Waldschmidt, passed away peacefully at The Woodlands, in Fond du Lac, on April 24, 2021, at the age of 85.
Howard was born on March 24, 1936, to Walter and Emma (Lohse) Waldschmidt in the Town of Forest. He was baptized on April 19th into the family of believers at St. Paul’s Town of Forest. On September 19, 1959, he married Beatrice M. Iding, at St. Peter’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Fond du Lac. Howard worked on his parents farm until being called to active duty with the 32nd infantry in 1961. After coming home from service he worked for B.F. Goodrich selling PF flyers. In 1976, he started Famous Footwear in Fond du Lac. Five years into that journey, he went independent and changed the name to B & H Footwear. In 1986, they moved the store to Clintonville where Howard and his wife Bea retired in 2019, after 44 years in business, and the store is still run by their daughter Sue (Carl) Aschliman. Howard was very active in the communities where he lived both in his church and community. He was a firefighter and first responder in the Town of Pella. He was also on the ambulance service in Clintonville. He worked through Fox Valley Tech teaching many first aid and CPR classes.
He is survived by his wife, of 61 years, Beatrice “Bea”; his children, Debbie (Andy) Seibel and Sue (Carl) Aschliman; his grandchildren: Anthony (Pam) Seibel, Phillip (Molly) Seibel, Olivia (Tim) Hill, Alex Seibel, Evan Seibel, Catherine (Charlie) Cunningham and Andrew (Crystal) Seibel, Eric (Lindsey) Hamberger, Christopher Hamberger, Kaise (fiancé Mitchell) Aschliman and Clayton Aschliman; his great-grandchildren: Arya, Delilah, Vinnie, Nellie and Bowen. He is also survived by brother-in-law Eugene Reitz and sister-in-law Marilyn Waldschmidt, Rosi (Bob) Loehr and Joanne (Doug) Zimmerman along with numerous nieces and nephews. Howard was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings: Vernon (Irene) (Sylvia) Waldschmidt, Donald Waldschmidt, Delbert (Lorraine) Waldschmidt, Lorraine (Bill) Krueger and Lucille Reitz.
We would like to thank the staff at the Woodlands and Agnesian Hospice for their care for Howard and family.
Visitation: Friends may call from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 2, 2021, at Faith Ev. Lutheran Church, 55 Prairie Road, Fond du Lac. Service: Memorial services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 2, 2021, at Faith Ev. Lutheran Church with his nephews, Rev. Richard Waldschmidt and Rev. Paul Waldschmidt officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Howard’s name appreciated to Clintonville Area Ambulance Service, St. Martin’s Belle Plaine, Winnebago Lutheran Academy or Faith Ev. Lutheran Church. Kurki Funeral Chapel & Crematory is serving the family, www.kurkifuneralchapel.com.