by Janet Dovidio
news@thewoodstockindependent.com
SOAR@Dorr (Serving Older Active Adults) was created in 2021 to establish a center for actively…
October 9, 2026
Barbara J. Schmidt, 78, Woodstock, died Monday, Oct. 1, 2012, at Valley Hi Nursing Home, Woodstock.
She was born Oct. 12, 1933, in Chicago to Theodore and Ivy (Hardin) Henker.
On May 23, 1953, she married James Schmidt in Palatine.
She was a homemaker and loved to paint, cook, knit, scrapbook, sew, garden and read.
Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Kathy (Jerry) Lemke, Union, and Patti (Alan) Esker, Freeport; a son, Steve (Beth) Schmidt, Woodstock; nine grandchildren, Krissy (Scott) Starwalt, Byron, Daniel (Carrie) Lemke, Rockford, Amy (Hansen) Voss, Marengo, Zachariah (Susanna) Esker, Kansas City, Mo., Jacob (Alyssa) Esker, Atlanta, Ga., Joanna Esker, Freeport, and Joshua, Adam and Lucas Schmidt, all of Woodstock; six great-grandchildren; and a sister, Kathleen Almonte, Wakefield, R.I.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers; and a sister.
Visitation was Oct. 3 at Saunders & McFarlin Funeral Home, Harvard.
The funeral was Oct. 4 in the funeral home.
The Rev. Keck Mowry officiated.
Burial was private in Randhill Park Cemetery, Arlington Heights.
Family and friends may sign the online guest book at www.saundersmcfarlin.net.