Charles Schmidt

Charles DuWayne Schmidt, age 86, passed away on October 2, 2013, due to a variety of health issues incident to old age and a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. DuWayne was born on Sept. 30, 1927, in West Jordan, Utah, the first child of Charles and Ella Schmidt. He had a wonderful childhood growing up in Midvale and Mt. Pleasant, Utah where he had many adventures with his younger brother Don and their two dogs. He grew up in a musical family, and enjoyed singing duets with his father Charles, usually accompanied by his mother at the piano. He graduated from Jordon High School in 1945 and enrolled at the University of Utah, where he was active in Lamda Delta Sigma (serving as both Beta and InterChapter President). There he met his future wife Alice Cannon, and was greatly influenced by Lowell Bennion at the LDS Institute. After graduation (1949) DuWayne began his life-long passion for medicine at the University of Utah Medical School and DuWayne and Alice were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 26, 1952. After completing his Medical degree in 1954, continued medical training and military service in U. S. Air Force led to a series of moves around the country (Minneapolis MN, Tucson AZ, Rochester MN). He returned to Salt Lake City in 1961 to join the Salt Lake Clinic. At each stop along the way another child was added to the family, and DuWayne and Alice were ultimately blessed with six children. They also loved and welcomed five Indian Placement children into their home for extended periods of time.
DuWayne’s life was marked by remarkable energy and dedication to those things he loved and believed in: his deep faith in God and the restored gospel of Jesus Christ; his wife and family; and the ideals and practice of medicine. DuWayne treasured his membership in the LDS church and served faithfully in many positions. His temple recommend was the most import slip of paper in his wallet. He especially loved the Boy Scout program where he enthusiastically served in many roles over many years, including scoutmaster of troop 304. He was awarded the Silver Beaver in 1984. All four of his sons and all eighteen of his grandsons achieved the Eagle rank. He loved his LDS mission to Mongolia (1993-94) where he and Alice were called to serve as part of the first group of LDS couple missionaries allowed into that country. DuWayne’s deep religious faith was inseparable from his commitment to Alice and his children. Although Alice and DuWayne were remarkably different in personality, their shared and deep-rooted testimonies and love of God permeated their marriage and family life together. His children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren all knew and loved him, and he knew and deeply loved each of them. His signature family activity was leading his posterity in a rousing rendition of “John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt.” DuWayne loved and was extremely dedicated to the practice of medicine. Trained in internal medicine, his specialty was pulmonary and chest diseases. He had a 31-year private practice at the Salt Lake Clinic, held many positions at the LDS Hospital (including Chief, Pulmonary Division from 1973-1992), was a clinical professor of Medicine at the University of Utah Medical School, and was active in many state, LDS church, and national medical organizations. Although honored by many awards along the way he never lost his focus on what he felt was his sacred responsibility to help and serve each individual patient with dignity and love, no matter their background or situation in life. He truly cared for the numerous patients he saw over the years and felt greatly blessed to associate and work with so many fine and incredibly skilled people in the medical profession.
DuWayne is survived by his wife Alice, six children: Jeffrey (Victoria Wheatley) Schmidt, Heidi (Milton) Shipp, Rodney (Barbara Knudsen) Schmidt, Tracy (Luanne Ellis) Schmidt, Heather (Ronald) Brown, and Brian (Sarah Jacobsen) Schmidt, 37 grandchildren, and 25 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Donald. The family wishes to express gratitude to the fine care provided by staff at the Wentworth at East Millcreek Assisted Living Center. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to the Intermountain Research and Medical Foundation (5121 S. Cottonwood Street, Murray, UT 84157), or the LDS Perpetual Education Fund (see pef.lds.org, click on “How Can I Help”). A viewing will be held on Sunday evening, Oct. 6 at the East Millcreek Stake Center, 3103 E. Craig Dr (3600 South) from 6-8 pm and on Monday Oct. 7 from 10:30-11:45 am. Funeral services will be held at the same location starting at 12 noon on Oct. 7. Interment will take place at the Redwood Memorial Estates cemetery, 6500 S Redwood Rd. in West Jordan UT.