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1934 - 2008
Age: 74
KLEINSCHMIDT, Edwin H.
Mattawan
Edwin passed away Saturday morning, December 27, 2008 at his home. He was born May 31, 1934 in Barron County, WI the son of Harold and Alma (Machinski) Kleinschmidt. He was a veteran serving in U.S. army during the Korean War. Edwin did his undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin and received his master degree in education at Michigan State University. He was a teacher at the Mattawan Schools for 36 years retiring in 1997.
NEWSPAPER RETIREMENT ARTICLE:
Kleinschmidt, 63, could be considered someone who beat the odds over 40 years ago. After his junior year in high school, he dropped out of school, enlisted in the U.S. Army and got married. But later, he enrolled in college and eventually received his bachelor's degree from Wisconsin State College at River Falls and his master's from Michigan State University. With a double major in biology and agriculture, and being vocationally certified in automotive and small engines, Kleinschmidt ended up teaching biology, agriculture and landscaping full-time to students at Mattawan High School. Kleinschmidt also taught those courses part-time to Kalamazoo Valley Community College students. "He is a wonderful teacher," said Mattawan School Board member Arlyene Cox, and mother of one of Kleinschmidt's students. "My son still uses the skills he learned in Ed's class." Through the years, the teacher has learned to respect his students, and to treat them like human beings. But his first day on the job, he wasn't sure teaching was the correct profession for him." "The first year I started teaching, I came into the classroom it was noisy," he said. "The kids were all yelling and it seemed like utter chaos. I thought to myself," "What have I gotten myself into?" Now with a tear in his eye, Kleinschmidt is retiring. Although he will spend much of his time mountain biking or cross-country running, Kleinschmidt said he will greatly miss his students and co-workers, but he will not miss grading report cards. "That's one of the hardest things to do as a teacher because the grade does not show the entire story of how much a student improved throughout the year or how much effort was involved," Kleinschmidt said.
On June 12, 1956 in Almena, Wisconsin Edwin was united in marriage to Margaret Berger who survives. Also surviving are 3 children, Margarita (Mike) Szyperski of Schoolcraft, Dean Kleinschmidt of Mattawan and Katharina (Larry) Goodman of Mattawan and 2 grandsons, Christopher (Elizabeth) Stansbury of Ann Arbor and Nicholas Goodman of Mattawan; mother, Alma Kleinschmidt of Almena WI; brother, sister and many other relatives in Wisconsin and Germany. Family will receive friends Friday, (1/2/2009) 6 to 8 p.m. at the Adams Funeral Home, Paw Paw. A private family interment service with military honors will be held at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, MI. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. |
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There are currently 20 condolences.
Linda Hilbert
hillbillyj1@hotmail.com
Saturday January 24, 2009 at
9:53 AM
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Mrs. Kleinschmidt and family,
I am so sorry to find out about Mr. Kleinschmidt, he was and always will be the best teacher and friend I ever had.
I have visited you both in Meijers or other stores in the past years. He will surely be missed by everyone.
I have continued to use many things he taught me throughout my adult life.
Take solice in how many people loved and respected your husband and father.
Linda Hilbert
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Lisa (Sutherland) Crook-Szeles
Sunday January 11, 2009 at
5:09 PM
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I am deeply sorry for your loss.
God bless your family. You are in my prayers.
Lisa
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Kathleen (Kwiat) Said
kathsaid@yahoo.com
Sunday January 4, 2009 at
7:04 PM
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Mr. Kleinschmidt - What wonderful memories I have of him. I talked him into having a girls auto-mechanics class! WHAT A BLAST. He was so patient with us and I actually learned how to fix my brakes, rebuild a solenoid, change a tire and the BEST part was.....it gave me the confidence to NOT be a DUMB BLOND that didn't know anything about cars. A few mechanics over the year tried to talk me into more than I needed - and they didn't get away with it!! Several of us from the class took him to Bachus Taste Vin for a Thank You Lunch!! He was AWESOME and will always have a special place in my heart! God Bless! Kathy Kwiat - Huntington Beach, CA
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Butch and Barb Lounsbery
Saturday January 3, 2009 at
6:41 PM
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Margaret and family
We are so sorry for your loss, Ed was a wonderful person. Butch sure liked him as a teacher and myself as a costomer at kmart,
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Norm and Betty French
Friday January 2, 2009 at
7:10 PM
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Dear Marge
We are so sorry to hear of Ed's passing. We had planned to come to night, but have colds and feel it better we don't. Please know our thoughts and Prayers are with you and your family.
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Kathie Kennedy
Friday January 2, 2009 at
2:55 PM
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Ed was a mentor to everyone at Mattawan--students, teachers, staff and administration. His gentle manner and love of people brought out the best in us all. We all offer gifts to the world, but Ed was a gift.
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Don Holman
holmandj@hotmail.com
Friday January 2, 2009 at
12:07 PM
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I thoroughly enjoyed classes with Mr. Kleinschmidt. He was a man amongst men, the calm in the storm and always, always unflappable. He was a very tolerant man with rock solid integrity, a modest sincere man with many talents, always positive and upbeat. I looked up to Mr. Kleinschmidt not because he was my teacher but because he was the kind of man we all wanted to become. God Bless, Mr. Kleinschmidt and his family. Don Holman class of 77
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Don Covell Jr
Thursday January 1, 2009 at
12:11 AM
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Thanks for teaching me about auto repair.... I now own 5 classic cars, and I can atually work on the myself for daily stuff, in part, due to what I learned in his class.
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Wednesday December 31, 2008 at
2:07 PM
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Nancy Garman
Wednesday December 31, 2008 at
2:07 PM
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I have passed on the news of Ed's passing to all who work at Mattawan and to as many of my ex-students as possible. Ever since then, I have received numerous messages about Ed that I will pass on to you. Personally, Ed was a man that truly had the heart of a teacher. I admired him so much and I will continue to work with kids at school in his honor. The best Christmas trees we ever had were from the Kleinschmidts! Ed was an angel in my life.
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Toby Borgens
precisioninsul@yahoo.com
Tuesday December 30, 2008 at
10:11 PM
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Mr. Kleinschmidt..or as i called him Mr. K was a BIG part of my high school years..(probably my best freind in HS) I had him for all 4 years for power and my jr year i had him for 2 classes power and biology..than my senior year I was a teacher asst to him . I lived only 1 mile from him on red arrow ...i will always charish sharing lunch and talking w/ him...helping him on the farm..and picking asparagus. he was my biggest mentor...thanks Mr. K ....ill miss you :(
Toby Borgens class of 1991
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Gary Broekhuizen
Tuesday December 30, 2008 at
4:54 PM
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Larry and family,
I read the obituary for Ed in the Monday Gazette. Losing a parent is a difficult thing. My wife and I have lost all 4 of our parents, and even though their health was not good, and you wish for the end to come, there is still the loss of a loved one. May the comfort and prayers of friends and God's love keep you during this difficult time.
Gary Broekhuizen
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Tim Molnar
Tuesday December 30, 2008 at
4:40 PM
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Mr. Kleinschmidt, as I always addressed him, even though he was a friend of my family before he was my teacher, was probably my favorite teacher of all. You always new where you stood with him. He was my Ag and Power Mechanics teacher, as well as my FFA Sponsor/Mentor. I have many fond memories with our FFA group, which include field trips to MSU every year for Farmer's Week, field trips to local farms to do soil sampling/testing and field trips to the FFA forest, southwest of Mattawan, to cut fence posts. But my favorite memory of all, was a short camping trip to somewhere up north (I don't even remember where), with a small group of FFA members. I will never forget, learning to drink coffee without cream on that trip, because we didn't have any. To this day, I still drink my coffee black. Mr. Kleinschmidt will be missed, but the family can take comfort in knowing that he touched the lives of many, many young Mattawan people in a very positive way.
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Michael Kucinich
Monday December 29, 2008 at
11:10 PM
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Mr. Kleinschmidt was a wonderful instructor who was highly respected/admired by all the students, particularly we occasionaly animated guys who were his students in the agricultural and industrial arts classes that he taught. He had a calm and assertive deameanor.
I will always remember and have passed on to others how he never gave tests or quizzes. He gave "opportunities", and I think about that positive outlook as it relates to the various challenges in life.
Michael Kucinich
Class of 1974
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Sharon Anderson-Western
Monday December 29, 2008 at
10:31 PM
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It was my pleasure to care for Edwin in the hospital and get to know him and his family. I especially enjoyed the home cooked food you brought such as the cabbage rolls he ate for breakfast! You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Sharon, RN
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john hamilton
jpham@chartermi.net
Monday December 29, 2008 at
6:08 PM
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I taught at Mattawan High School with Ed for many years. I enjoyed Ed's sense of humor and I know his students did as well. He had a great impact on his students lives. He taught many lifetime practical skills and lifetime lessons.
He was someone I could trust and depend on as he helped negociate our teacher's contracts. He had a smiling face and words of encouragement that brightened my day. My prayers go out to Ed's family in this time of great loss. John and Mary Jane Hamilton
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Paul S. Miller
Monday December 29, 2008 at
11:31 AM
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Margaret and Family. We were very saddened to hear the news of Mr. Kleinschmidt's passing. He was my Ag teacher and mentor for four years at Mattawan. He was the best possible influence I could have had in High School. He always encouraged me to excell in everything I did and actually started me on the path to attend Michigan State University and I graduated in 1970. That opened a door to a 35 year career with the United States Department of Agriculture and I retired in 2005. He will always be "Mr. Klienschmidt" to me. He was the best!
Paul Miller, Mattawan Class of '65
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Donovan & Lynn Ann Kirkendall
Sunday December 28, 2008 at
12:32 PM
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Dear Margaret & Family,
We are so very sorry for your loss. Ed was always a pleasure to talk with... good spirited and happy. He was a very fine man, always so nice. We're going to miss his great smile and freindship. Our deepest heartfelt sympathies go out to you and all your family.
Don & Lynn Kirkendall
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Geraldine (Bates) Sampsell
Saturday December 27, 2008 at
9:12 PM
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I knew Mr. Kleinschmidt when I was in school. My mother worked in the kitchen at Mattawan. He was very well liked. My condolence's go out to the family.
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Darlene Goodman
Saturday December 27, 2008 at
4:41 PM
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Marge, my heart goes out to you, I'll remember Ed because he always had a smile on his face. He was a people person and was happy visiting and being with other people. I'm so glad my son is a part of your family, I know you all mean the world to him too.
Darlene
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