Obituary of Maximilian Joseph Schmid

Maximilian "Max" Joseph Schmid Born Feb. 1, 1914 Died Jan. 14, 2017 Lifetime Camas/Washougal resident, Maximilian "Max" Joseph Schmid passed peacefully on January 14, 2017, just two weeks shy of his 103rd birthday. Max was born on the 200-acre Zitzelsberger Farm east of Washougal to Maximilian Alois George Schmid and Anna Rose Zitzelsberger. Family legend recalls Dr. McMakin getting lost en route to the farm via horse & buggy in a severe snow storm, before being rescued by Max's father. All five of Max's siblings were also born on the farm; brothers Arnold Schmid, George Schmid and sisters Barbara Peshon, Josephine Coffin Myklebust, E'Anne Marquardt Esch; all previously deceased. Max attended Providence Academy School in Vancouver for 5 years, then Washougal schools from 6th grade through High School, graduating class of 1934. After working on the family farm during his early years, Max took employment at the Camas paper mill in the finishing department for six years. Max began his life ambition of owning/operating his own excavation business in 1938. Camas Sand & Rock originally named Canyon Rock Construction operated the first D2 Caterpillar in Clark County and was involved in thousands of excavation and construction projects all over the County for nearly 70 years. Max took extreme pride in hard, honest work and "a job well done." Max maintained a 33-acre farm in Camas and also enjoyed gold/mineral mining and was an enthusiastic inventor. Max married Esther Buttler on August 24, 1940 and was married for 68 years until her death in 2008. Family was very important to Max & Esther's life together, including late son Anthony "Lanny" Schmid 1976, daughter Judy Davis of Washougal, son Dennis Betty Schmid of Camas, sisters-in-law June Buttler of Vancouver and Emma Schmid of Washougal, 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Max was an original member of the current St. Thomas Catholic Church in Camas, involved in its construction, and a devoted Catholic his entire life. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus since he was 18 years old. Max lived the past three years and passed peacefully under the exceptional and loving care of Regency Park Senior Living in Ridgefield, WA. A funeral mass will be held Thursday January 19th at 11:00am at St. Thomas Catholic Church, 324 Oak Street, Camas. Rosary held prior to service at 10:30am. Burial will be at the Camas Cemetery. Straub's Funeral Home & Columbia River Cremation in Camas is in charge of the arrangements. To send condolences or to sign the online guestbook please visit www.straubsfuneralhome.com. Charitable donations may be made in Max Schmid's name to the Knights of Columbus.