Committal Service with Military Honors
Friday, November 15, 2013 following 9:45am Funeral from The Cranston-Murphy Funeral Home of Wickford and 11am Mass of Christian Burial in Christ The King Church (Section 75 Lot 14 Grave 11)
Knute M. Schmidt, Jr., 72, of Glen Hill Drive, North Kingstown, died peacefully at home in the company of his wife and daughter on November 9th. He was the beloved husband of Marianne (Mazella) Schmidt and the father of Sonja M. Schmidt.
Born in Elizabethton, TN, a son of the late Knute and Edith Schmidt, he has lived in North Kingstown for 15 years.
Captain Schmidt served his country for 33 years in the U.S. Navy, including 3 combat tours of Vietnam. He earned many awards, including the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star with a combat (V).
He will be fondly remembered by his surviving shipmates of the USS Oriskany (CVA-34), USS Joseph Strauss (DDG-1),and the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). His final assignment in the Navy brought him to RI where he served as Officer In Command of the Naval Intelligence Attachment at the Naval War College in Newport.
After his retirement, Captain Schmidt became involved in his church and community, including Habitat for Humanity, Christ The King Social Action Committee, and the Newport Tall Ships. On Nascar days, you’d often find him glued to the TV. He was a kind, caring, and courageous man with a personality bigger than life itself.
Besides his wife of 33 years and his daughter, he is survived by his younger brother, Rear Admiral William R. Schmidt, US Navy Retired and loving family and friends, including 7 nieces and nephews, 2 sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law.
His Funeral will be held Friday, November 15th at 9:45 am from THE CRANSTON-MURPHY FUNERAL HOME of WICKFORD, 140 W. Main St. with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am in Christ The King Church, 180 Old North Rd., Kingston. Burial with full Military Honors will follow in Quidnessett Memorial Cemetery. Visiting Hours will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday Nov. 13th from 4-7 pm and Thursday Nov. 14th from 4-7 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the wounded Warriors Project and Salvation Army in memory of Knute M. Schmidt. www.woundedwarriorsproject.com www.salvationarmyusa.org. You only live once, do it right and once is enough.
