Clara Marie Schmidt, 82, of El Dorado Hills, Calif., passed away on June 15, 2018.

A memorial service for Clara was held on Saturday, July 7, at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Granite Bay, Calif. A service was also held on July 28 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Fairfax, Minn., with Interment immediately following at Fort Ridgely State Cemetery.

Clara Schwemle was born in Forestburg, on June 13, 1936, to Blanche and Carl Schwemle. She attended school in Forestburg. After graduating from Forestburg High School in 1954, Clara attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls. 

Clara married Alan Schmidt on Aug. 19, 1956. Throughout her life, Clara was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church, and she held a variety of jobs including church secretary, Census Bureau administrator and bank teller. Most importantly, Clara was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother with a smile that would light up the room. She was an accomplished seamstress and artist, and especially enjoyed water color painting.

Clara is survived by her husband of 62 years, Pastor Alan; daughters, Debra Dorband (Wayne) and Stephani Long (Ken), six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; her sister, Phyllis Manke; and brothers, Donald and David Schwemle.