header 1
header 2
header 3

In Memoriam

Sally Woolner - Class Of 1962 VIEW PROFILE

Sally Woolner

Sally Woolner Schmidt class of 1962 passed away on Wednesday, July 19, 2017 at the age of 72 from complications of Parkinson's disease.

She was born in Detroit, Michigan, of parents Sidney and Doris Woolner, in 1944. After completing high school in Okemos (Lansing area), Sally graduated in 1966 at the University of Michigan (with honors) and followed with her Master's Degree in Social Work from the Boston University in 1969.

In February of that year she met her future husband, Robert Schmidt, at a farm house in Vermont on a ski trip, and an American Airlines romance ensued with travel between Boston and Cleveland. They were married in September of 1969 and have been residents of Bayside since Bob completed his surgical training in Cleveland three years later in Milwaukee, Sally has worked at Catholic Social Services, Lutheran Social Services, in private practice, and as a volunteer at the Sixteenth Street Clinic. In the mid 80's she completed a 2-year course (weekly Tuesday travel) at the Family Institute of Chicago (Northwestern U.) in Marital and Family Therapy, an area which held her interest in the subsequent years.

Sally is preceded in death by her brother, Thomas, who passed away in 2015 in Oakland, CA and her brother-in-law, Albert Schmidt who died in 1986.

She is survived by her husband, Bob, two sons: Andrew (Sara Katt) and William (Jessica Costa) and five grandchildren: Audrey, Ryan & Carte, and Dylan & Emily. Other surviving relatives are sister-in-law Mary Schmidt, nephew Mark Schmidt, and niece Ruth Brook, all of whom were close to Sally.

Her interests included reading, skiing, travel to five continents with her husband, and picking the flowers which latter planted and watered until they were in bloom. There are many friends who will sorely miss her listening (and interested) ear. She was a loving and tolerant companion to Bob and a wonderful mother to our two sons. Memorable family events were trips UP North in the summers, and ventures Out West on ski vacations. Lower on her enjoyment list was family camping in the rain.

An oft heard phrase directed to our sons was that "life is not fair". She remained an active member of Plymouth Church UCC and supported all that it stands for.

Husband Bob is most appreciative of the dedicated attention and care given by Salena who was a constant companion to Sally, reading to her because of blindness, and watching out over every need for over four years. Lisa ("LeLe") aided Sally significantly in the past. Mention should also be made of Tina and Veola who were most compassionate caregivers. She spent over four years at Elizabeth Residence in Bayside where the care was superb.

Unfortunately, for Sally, "Life was not fair" in its waning years, but visits from friends enriched her life significantly.

A Memorial Service for Sally will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, August 7, 2017 at Plymouth Church UCC, 2717 E. Hampshire St., Milwaukee, with a luncheon following. In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of Sally may be made to Plymouth Church UCC, 2717 E. Hampshire St., Milwaukee, WI 53211 or to the charity of your choice.

Our thanks to Jill Axline Roth class of 1962 for notification.



Click here to see Sally's last Profile entry.