Cleveland, MN/ Frisco, TX

Bruce's love of life didn't come to an end with his death. Bruce passed away peacefully at his home in Frisco, Texas on February 2, 2022 at the age of 75 after a courageous battle with liver disease. He was surrounded by his cherished family who will continue to honor his legacy by living their lives to the fullest.

Bruce was born to Myles & Josephine Schmidt on February 1, 1947. From a very early age, Bruce's parents instilled in him the importance of a strong work ethic and a strong education. Bruce graduated from High School in 1965 from Cleveland, MN. He then went on to graduate from Mankato State University in 1969 with a degree in Business. Bruce proudly served his county for 20 years in the United States Air Force which he joined in 1969.

After entering Air Force Pilot Training in 1970, he graduated number 3 in his class and started his career as a flight instructor in the T-38. His next assignment was flying the F4 Phantom Fighter Jet in California, England, Germany, and at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. He then accepted an assignment in Alaska in 1980 flying the T-33 as part of the Aggressor Squadron where he played the bad guy for the F-15s. He then transitioned and served as the Chief of the Headquarters Alaskan Air Command Arctic Survival Exercise Division. He led a team that developed operational training for Air Force personnel to stay alive in extreme winter Arctic conditions. His exercises taught pilots and aircrew members how to be mobile in the Arctic environment, how to build Arctic shelters and to be able to contend with wind gusts as high as 50 miles per hour, wind chills dropping to minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and constant near darkness since the sun does not rise above the horizon for 65 consecutive days in the winter. Few places on the face of the earth can be as unforgiving or as deadly as the frozen Arctic. He served his final assignment as the Air Liaison Officer for the A-10 Flying Tigers based at England AFB in Alexandria, Louisiana. He holds two Meritorious Service Medals.

Following Air Force retirement as a Major in 1989, he settled his family in Dallas, Texas. Dutch was hired as a Commercial Airline Pilot for American Airlines. He had the great pleasure of flying the Boeing 727, 757, 767, and the Fokker 100 during his career at American Airlines. He also operated an open cockpit Bi-Plane Ride company in the DFW area for a number of years flying a Waco YMF-35. After retiring from American Airlines on April 1, 2003 he went on to fly the Boeing 717 for AirTran Airways until he ultimately retired on January 29, 2007. One of the most special moments of his aviation career was when he was able to copilot an entire trip on the 717 along side his son, Captain Glen Schmidt at AirTran Airways. Bruce was also a civilian Flight Instructor throughout his career and enjoyed teaching students how to fly. Bruce holds a patent for an In-Flight Problem Situation Simulator issued 6/16/1987.

Bruce married his lovely wife of 53 years Janice in 1968 after meeting her in Walker, MN. They started a family in 1971 and they raised two wonderful children, Glen and Lisa throughout their travels in the Air Force around the world. Along with them came some wonderful grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who all live in the local DFW area. The simplest pleasures in life brought great joy to Bruce and he loved flying, fishing, and spending quality time with his family and friends most of all. He had an astounding ability to find happiness in his daily activities and his comedic personality was contagious to everyone he met. There is no doubt he touched an incredible amount of lives and his memory will live on in those he leaves behind.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, Myles & Josephine Schmidt.

Bruce will be profoundly missed by his wife, Janice; his son and daughter-in-law, Glen and Selena Schmidt; his daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Manuel Estrella; his sisters JoAnn (David Voss) and Mitz (Verlin Harms); granddaughters Michelle and Meredith Estrella; grandsons Trevin and Justin Bradshaw; four great-grandchildren; and many other family members, military and fishing buddies, and all of his friends and neighbors.

Memorial Services will be held on Wednesday, March 30th, 2022 at 10:00am at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 8000 Eldorado Pkwy, Frisco, TX. Reception to follow.

Burial Service with Military Honors will be held at 2:00pm at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX.

If you are unable to attend in person, the Memorial Service will be LIVE Streamed and a video of his burial with Military Honors will be published following the burial. Visit this LINK for both: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB7i_-lCxi3xXCSxi8BmFqYky99QuHjdU

In Lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please make a charitable contribution to the American Transplant Foundation's Patient Assistance Program in honor of Bruce at https://www.americantransplantfoundation.org/honor-a-loved-one/