Dard Herbert Schmidt

Dard Herbert Schmidt lived a life that embodied the values of his generation: dedication to family, commitment to community, and unwavering loyalty to both profession and faith. Born on April 23, 1937, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Herbert Theodore Schmidt and Marcella Hannon Schmidt, Dard came of age during the transformative decades of mid-twentieth century America.

His mother, Marcella Hannon Schmidt, was born on November 24, 1911, and passed away on November 23, 1980, just one day before her 69th birthday, at Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum in Saint Louis. Dard grew up alongside his sisters, Jeanene Schmidt Mascia, who would make her home in Webster Groves, Missouri, and Denise Schmidt Breeden, who settled in Ballwin, Missouri, working as a teaching assistant at the Special School District of St. Louis County.

Dard's educational journey began at Normandy High School in St. Louis, which had been founded in 1923 and was notable for opening one of the first St. Louis County high school swimming pools in 1948. He graduated from Normandy High School in 1955, with his yearbook preserved in the St. Louis County Library's digital archives. Following high school, Dard pursued higher education at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, earning his bachelor's degree from the institution that had broken ground in 1963 and opened with the Peck Classroom Building and Lovejoy Library in 1965.

On April 26, 1958, Dard married Marjorie Ann Hawkins Schmidt, beginning a remarkable partnership that would endure for 66 years until Marjorie's death on July 10, 2024. Their marriage was characterized by shared faith and deep commitment to family, values that would guide them through decades of change and growth.

In 1970, Dard made a pivotal career decision, moving to Springfield, Illinois, to begin his employment with Horace Mann Insurance. The company, founded in 1945 by Springfield teachers Leslie Nimmo and Carrol Hall to serve educators, provided Dard with a professional home for the next three decades. His dedication and skill led to steady advancement, culminating in his retirement in 2002 as Vice President, Planning and Administrative Support after 31 years of service. During his tenure, he worked from the company's distinctive headquarters building designed by renowned architect Minoru Yamasaki, which opened in 1972.

Throughout their decades in Springfield, Dard and Marjorie established deep roots in their community, becoming devoted members of Laurel United Methodist Church for 48 years. Laurel Methodist, which had been founded in 1896 as a Sunday School and incorporated as Laurel Methodist Episcopal Church in October 1899, provided a spiritual home where the couple formed lasting friendships and lived out their faith.

Dard and Marjorie raised two children who would establish families of their own across the country. Their daughter, Staci Schmidt Zuspann, married David Zuspann and made their home in Caledonia, Michigan, a charter township in Kent County approximately 10 miles southeast of Grand Rapids. Their son, Grant Edward Schmidt, married Margaret and established their household in Boulder, Colorado, the county seat and most populous municipality in Boulder County.

In 2018, at the ages of 80 and 81, Dard and Marjorie made the significant decision to relocate to Byron Center, Michigan, to be closer to family. Byron Center, a census-designated place in Kent County with a population of 7,431 according to the 2020 census, provided them with a new community while maintaining proximity to their daughter's family. They joined Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids, where they were warmly welcomed and formed new friendships in their final years.

Dard's retirement years were filled with the pursuits that brought him joy. He was an avid golfer and took pleasure in maintaining his yard, but perhaps his greatest passion was his unwavering support for two beloved teams: the St. Louis Cardinals and the University of Illinois Fighting Illini. The Cardinals, with their storied history including World Series championships in 1964, 1967, 1968, 1982, 1987, and 2006, connected him to his Missouri roots. His devotion to Fighting Illini basketball and football reflected his deep ties to central Illinois, where he had spent nearly five decades of his life. He rarely missed a game on television, making these teams a focal point of his leisure time and a source of ongoing excitement throughout the changing seasons.

Dard's family legacy extended through seven grandchildren: Ashley (Joey) Salamone, Michael (Sarah) Zuspann, and Jack Zuspann from Staci's family, and Colter, Hadley, Christopher, and Hazel Schmidt from Grant's family. His great-grandchildren—Olivia, Bennett, and Camden Salamone; Noah, Willow, and Madeline Zuspann; and Courtland, son of Hadley Schmidt—represented the fourth generation carrying forward the Schmidt family name and values.

On April 1, 2026, Dard passed away peacefully at his home in Byron Center, surrounded by his family, at the age of 88. His memorial service was held at Trinity United Methodist Church on April 11, 2026, with guests invited to honor his memory by wearing Fighting Illini orange or Cardinals red—a touching tribute to the teams he loved. True to his lifelong commitment to Marjorie, Dard was laid to rest alongside his wife at Oak Park Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri, returning to the city where his journey began.

Dard Schmidt will be remembered for his family values, attention to detail, love of history, and gift for storytelling. His life exemplified the virtues of consistency, loyalty, and genuine care for others—qualities that enriched every community he touched, from his childhood neighborhood in St. Louis to his final home in Michigan. In an era of constant change, Dard provided a steady example of how commitment to family, faith, and community can create a legacy that spans generations.