Obituary of Gwendolyn Marie Schmidt

Gwendolyn Marie Sahr was born in Wyandotte, Michigan on August 6, 1938, to Edward William Fredrick and Virgel Marie Sahr. She was the baby of the family, joined by an older sister: Joyce Elaine, and half-brothers: Joseph Thomas and James William.  Gwen attended Great Lakes Christian College in Beamsville, Ontario, Canada from 1952 through 1954. She graduated from Monroe High School in Monroe, Michigan with the Class of 1956 and furthered her education in clinical psychology at Monroe County Community College. A devout Christian, Gwen attended Echo Meadows Church of Christ in Oregon, Ohio since its founding.

Gwen was employed as an Office Manager at the Adult Probation Department of the State of Michigan Department of Corrections in Monroe for more than thirty years.  She retired in 2001. She had previously been employed as a bus driver for Mason Consolidated Schools and a sub-mail carrier for the United States Postal Service for several years.

On August 11, 1956, Gwendolyn married Eugene Gilbert Roggelin. Their union was blessed with four children: Joel Matthew, Daniel Kevin, Stacy Marie, and Nannette Jeanne. She later wed Thomas Schmidt on July 20, 1973. Of this union, a daughter: Nicole Ann Marie was born.

Gwen loved animals and raised horses, cows, pigs, goats, and sheep at their family homestead. When her children were young, they cared for a skunk and a fox whom they found injured. Gwen often shared a story of the fox coming back to their yard a year after it was released into the wild to visit them along with its companion and baby kits. Gwen also cherished her beloved cat, “Pepper”, and was a second dog-mom to her neighbor’s two German Shepherds. For more than twenty-five years, Gwen was a proud member of the Monroe County 4-H Association.  At 4-H she served on the Council, as Bedford 4-H District Treasurer, and as a Mid-Manager.  She was an avid collector of Fenton glass. A talented seamstress, Gwen stitched beautiful handmade quilts and sewed dresses to be sent to those in need overseas.

Gwendolyn Marie Schmidt, age 84, of Erie, Michigan passed away unexpectedly at home on Tuesday; June 13, 2023. Her passing was preceded by her parents: Edward and Virgel Sahr; her husband: Thomas Schmidt; a sister and brother in-law: Joyce Elaine and William Pearson; two half-brothers: Joseph Thomas (Fran) Tibbitts and James William (Jean) Sahr; and a former spouse: Eugene Roggelin.

To cherish her memory, she leaves five children: Joel Roggelin of Monroe, Daniel (Mary Jo) Roggelin of Oregon, Ohio, Stacy Roggelin (Allen Rupert) of Deerfield, Michigan, Nannette (Roggelin), and Nicole (Bryan) Banks of Henderson, Tennessee; four step-children: Dawn, Theresa, Gary, and Diane (Schmidt); seventeen grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00am on Friday, June 16, 2023 at LaSalle Township Cemetery in LaSalle, Michigan (Stein Road between South Dixie Highway and South Telegraph Road). Gwendolyn’s care has been entrusted to Merkle Funeral Service, Erie; 9156 Summit Street, Erie, Michigan 48133 (734) 317-7199.

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