December 2004              return to newsletter contents page

Vet Helped Many from Behind Scenes

by Beth Walton, Staff Writer Holland Sentinel

Dr. Lawrence Edwin Schmidt was the kind of man who liked to help, but insisted on being in the background.

Schmidt, 84, a Holland, Michigan resident who founded Schmidt Veterinary Clinic, Vetpo Distributors and VED Co., died recently.

"He never liked the limelight. He didn't like to be boastful," Dick Schmidt said of his father. "It's just the way he lived. He did a lot for different people, but he always did it behind the scenes.

"It was just the way he was. He wanted to share with everybody, especially the unfortunate people, because he was so proud of what he did."

Schmidt was born in Iowa, but moved to Coopersville as a child.

After graduating from high school, he hitchhiked to Michigan State University, carrying just one box of belongings. With no place to stay and no job, he slept on the gymnasium floor his first night in East Lansing.

"He worked his way through college," Dick Schmidt said. "He was raising potatoes the year before he was supposed to go to school. He worked hard all summer long to grow his potatoes but that fall they got the blight and the potatoes all died, so he went to school."

After earning a bachelor's degree, Schmidt enlisted in the Army, serving in the Veterinary Corps during World War II.

When he returned from the war, Schmidt enrolled at Michigan State's veterinary school. He settled in Holland in 1950, establishing the Schmidt Veterinary Clinic. Three years later he established Vetpo Distributors.

"He was dedicated and hard-working and very honorable," Dick Schmidt said. "People believed in his work."

One of the first veterinarians in the area, Schmidt treated all sorts of animals.

"He did everything," said Dr. John Schmidt, his son who took over Schmidt Veterinary Clinic after his father's retirement.

Schmidt also donated money to his church and other worthy causes quietly.

"He was the kind of man who made a difference in his community and his church," said the Rev. William Dobbs, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Holland. "He was not the kind of man who wanted to be in the front. He was always supportive in the background."

After retirement, Schmidt and his wife, Eloise, moved to Arizona. He returned to Holland last week.

"This family is like a commune," John Schmidt said. "Everybody helps everybody else and it is a responsibility to help the next generation move up one or two notches. He did it. He moved a lot of people up and never asked for anything in return."

Schmidt is survived by his wife of 62 years, Eloise; and children John and Marilyn Schmidt of Holland, Dick and Jean Schmidt of Fennville and William Schmidt of Holland.

Contact Beth Walton at beth.walton@hollandsentinel.com or (616) 546-4258.