Monsignor George Edward Schmidt, Jr.

Monsignor George Edward Schmidt, Jr. passed away quietly just after 11:00 pm on December 29, 2016.

He was born on April 12, 1944 in Palmer, TN. He was preceded in death by his parents: George Edward Schmidt, Sr. and Maude Goodman Schmidt.

He is survived by his brother, Warren (Diane) Schmidt of Cincinnati, OH and his sister, Martha (Lawrence) Skelly of Lake Ridge, VA. Monsignor Schmidt has two nephews: Lawrence Edward (Eileen) Skelly, III of Oviedo, FL with children Lawrence, Catherine, Shannon, and Brennan; and William Matthew (Stacy) Skelly of Washington, DC with children Liam and Owen. In addition to his siblings' families, Monsignor Schmidt has many cousins in Tennessee and around the country.

Monsignor Schmidt had his early education in Chattanooga, and graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1962. He immediately began his studies for the priesthood in the Fall of 1962. He entered St. Pius X Seminary in Covington, KY, from which he earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1966. He finished his academic preparation when he graduated from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, LA as a Master of Divinity. He was ordained at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Chattanooga on January 24, 1970. Father Schmidt was named a Monsignor by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011.

Monsignor George spent his life serving the people of Tennessee. Early in his priesthood he was assigned to Nashville, Oak Ridge, and Cleveland. Immediately prior to returning to Chattanooga, he was Associate Pastor of Christ the King in Nashville. He was selected to be Pastor in Chattanooga in 1986 at Sts. Peter and Paul, the church where he was an altar server as a student.

The church building was designated a Minor Basilica in 2011, and Monsignor Schmidt was the first Rector. During his tenure at Sts. Peter and Paul, he led several important projects, which included: painting and redecorating the interior of the structure, renovation of the historic pipe organ, and remodeling the basement from storage to become the Parish Hall. He retired late in 2013, and was named the Rector Emeritus. Following his retirement, he was a resident at the St. Jude Parish Rectory, where he routinely concelebrated the morning Mass with the Pastor, Fr. Charles Burton.

Monsignor Schmidt joined the Knights of Columbus on October 1, 1970, and for 25 years was the Chaplain of the Serra Club of Chattanooga. He additionally served as the Dean of the Chattanooga Deanery.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at 11:00 am, celebrated by Bishop Richard Stika with nearly 50 attending clergy. Burial was at Priest's Mound of the Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Monsignor George E. Schmidt Scholarship Fund at Notre Dame High School, to the Priest's Retirement Fund of the Diocese of Knoxville, or to Hospice of Chattanooga.