"Some fun facts about my Grandma: Her school in Grand Junction only went to the 8th grade, so she lived with a couple/family friends in Kalamazoo during the school year so she could attend the high-school there and graduate. She would go home on the weekends to see her family. She and Grandpa eloped. They were married in Detroit. He was 26 and she was 20. They met in Kalamazoo while she was in high school, but she was attending Western Michigan University when they married. When they moved to St. Ignace, Mackinac Bridge wasn?t built yet so they had to take the car ferry across the Straits. She recalled seeing all the American-Indian children and thinking they were Eskimos. She ran a little café at the airport that Grandpa operated, then they built and rented out cabins and campsites, eventually getting rid of the cabins and just running the campground. She always made us candied apples for Halloween. She taught me how to play dominos. I don?t ever remember seeing her worried or scared. She was always strong and matter-of-fact. She always called me Cathy Ann. She loved her family most of all, and I'll miss her giggles. Love you Grandma!! "
In loving memory of
Coragail Schmidt
January 16, 1918 - September 25, 2018
Coragail Schmidt, 100 years young, passed away surrounded by loving family on September 25, 2018. at Sandhill Gardens in Punta Gorda. She was predeceased by her husband, Walter A. Schmidt and her brother LaVelle Bolin of Chicago, Illinois. Coragail was a proud Mother, loved Mother-in-Law, an adoring grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother.
She is survived by her three sons and their spouses, Walter Schmidt also known as Skip and his wife Beverly of St. Ignace Michigan, Richard and his wife Peggy of Fort Myers Florida, and Paul of Punta Gorda Florida; 10 Grandchildren and their spouses, Christopher Schmidt Sr (Cia), Cathy Schmidt-Magee (John), Cay Schmidt Dutra (Jason), Nick Schmidt (Beth), Anneke Mander (Richard) August Schmidt, John Owen Schmidt, Aaron Schmidt (Jennifer), Michele Johnson (Jason), Matthew Dinkel (Leslie); the grown children of her brother LaVelle, Marla Bolin, Sandy Bolin, Bill Bolin(Maggie) and Marla's son Ward Jacox (Raquel); 20 Great Grandchildren, Ashley Romine, Christopher Schmidt Jr; Casey Schmidt, Cole Schmidt, Rachel Huskey, Shane Schmidt, Grace Ellwanger, Max Dutra, Isabel Dutra, Abigail Dutra, Austin Schmidt, Justin Schmidt, Finn Schmidt, Everly Schmidt, Nora Schmidt, Margo Schmidt, Mckenzie Campagnolo, Reece Dinkel, Ella Dinkel, Lila Dinkel; one Great-Great Grandchild, Amelia Romaine and a second on the way.
Born January 16, 1918 to Paul and Florence Bolin in Chicago, Il. Coragail lived in both Michigan and Ohio before moving to Southwest Florida in the early 1950's from St Ignace, Michigan.
Coragail was both a housewife and a small business entrepreneur who loved taking care of, organizing and managing businesses that helped provide for her family and home. Her husband, Walter, was the Manager of Mackinac County Airport from 1940 to 1954 in St Ignace. Along with his friend Frank Blake, Walter ran a Flight School at the Airport. It is said anyone who was a pilot in St Ignace was taught to fly by Walter and Frank. Coragail, along with Shirley Blake, worked together manage "Gail's Snack Bar" at the St Ignace Airport which included supplying lunches to the local schools.
In the words of a granddaughter "My grandma was the absolute definition of a life well lived. She travelled the world, climbed mountains, flew in airplanes, sailed oceans, went to college and ran a restaurant and a campground." Her travels took her to 49 states in the USA, to visit sons in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Tunisia, to Europe visiting Italy, Austria and France. Further travels included England, Scotland, Ireland, a cruise to Mexico, a camping Safari in the African countries of Kenya and Tanzania to see the Great Migration of Wildlife; Travel throughout New Zealand with a helicopter ride and snow landing to the top of Mt Cook and the Franz Josef Glacier. She loved to be on sailboats and spent time her son Paul in the Virgin Islands. For her 95th birthday she flew in a 1941 antique open cockpit bi-plane piloted by her son Richard.
Coragail was an artist. She first picked up a paintbrush in her 70's taking art lessons from the Charlotte County Cultural Center. She painted what she loved: flowers, Florida sand dunes, beaches and palm trees, Michigan ducks, Sailboats, ocean waves crashing on the rocks, trees and trails, old houses, covered bridges, mountains and streams.
While she was often recognized for her organization, persistence, determination, and quiet caution, friends and family loved to listen to her laugh. Coragail had a way of both seeing the humor in most situations as well as accepting things as they were in the present with gratitude for the fullness of her life. Coragail was an inspiration to those who knew her, particularly the younger members of her extended family. They often expressed wonder at her understanding of their generation and her ability to see the humor in so many of life's events. She leaves a legacy of a life well lived, a family appreciative of her spirit, and many fond memories for all who knew her.
"I think laughter is one of the greatest miracles and medicines we have. Any time you can laugh and find the humor in a situation, it's going to release you." --Sara Davidson author of "Loose change, Leap!"
Tributes
"My aunt has been part of my life for almost 75 years, through good (and not so good) times. No matter the circumstances I could always count on her for support, a kind word and a laugh or two. I have been thinking of words to describe her and one word rises to the top of my list: generous. I don't mean generous in the sense of passing out the bucks (tho I'm sure she did that too) - I mean generous in terms of: - her care and love for her family - her willingness to listen and find the common good - her acceptance of and compassion for people no matter their race, creed or station in life. Of course she wasn't perfect, but she came as close to perfection as anyone I have ever known and her example shaped me and made me a better person. For her 98th birthday I wrote her a note about her part in my childhood in St. Ignace, Michigan and that is in the photo section."
"My aunt has been part of my life for almost 75 years, through good (and not so good) times. No matter the circumstances I could always count on her for support, a kind word and a laugh or two. I have been thinking of words to describe her and one word rises to the top of my list: generous. I don't mean generous in the sense of passing out the bucks (tho I'm sure she did that too) -I mean generous in terms of: - her care and love for her family - her willingness to listen and find the common good -her acceptance of and compassion for people no matter their race, creed or station in life. Of course, she wasn't perfect, but she came as close to perfection as anyone I have ever known and her example has shaped me and made me a better person. For her 98th birthday I wrote her a note about her part in my childhood in St.Ignace, Michigan and that is in the photos."