Daniel Vincent Schmid of East Wenatchee, WA

Dan was born on October 20, 1954, in Moses Lake, Washington, to Vincent and Ruthanne (McDonnell) Schmid. He attended Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane and went on to build a life centered on family, faith, service, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved.

Dan shared 50 years of marriage with his beloved wife Mary Lynn Schmid, whom he married on August 14, 1976. Together they built a family and a life filled with love, travel, home improvement projects, family dinners, and countless memories.

Dan began his career as an electronics technician, but his talents and character quickly made him much more than that. Wherever he worked, he became the person people turned to-the problem solver who could be counted on to figure things out and help make things right. His ability to understand people and situations, combined with his steady and dependable nature, made him someone others trusted.

Service to others was woven into nearly every part of Dan's life. He served as a choir member, religious education and confirmation teacher, marriage preparation facilitator, coach, and referee. Countless evenings and weekends were spent helping people move, working on their homes, or fixing their cars. He also gave his time to food drives and many other efforts to support his community.

Dan was a man of deep faith and had a servant's heart. He was stable and trustworthy, and he assumed the very best of people. He loved without reservation. He treated people with respect and made sure they knew they could count on him.

He also had a gift for asking the questions that mattered. Dan would sometimes ask difficult questions-not to judge, but because he genuinely wanted to understand you and help you better understand yourself. His wisdom, honesty, and willingness to be present for others were among the qualities that made him so deeply valued by all who knew him.

Dan found joy in the simple, meaningful things in life: fishing, camping, landscape design, and working on projects around the home and yard. He especially treasured family dinners, traveling with Mary Lynn, and working alongside his grandchildren. His later years were filled with following his grandchildren to as many games, recitals, and concerts as he could possibly get to. These ordinary moments were never ordinary to Dan-they were opportunities to spend time with the people he loved.

Dan and Mary Lynn's home was open to all and was always filled with friends, family, last-minute guests, and people needing a place to stay for a night or until they have gotten back on their feet. The Schmid home has always been known as a place of love, support, and refuge.

Dan was a devoted father, grandfather (Papa), and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife and love of his life, Mary Lynn; his children, Christopher (Katherine), Nicholas, Melissa (Adrian), and Susan (Anthony); his grandchildren, Mateo, Noah (Emma), Salena, Jonah, Sierra, Layla, Micah, Violet, Zander, and Lily; his great-grandchildren, Perseus and Mallory; his sisters, Patricia (Jim), Teresa (Cam), Mary; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Vincent and Ruthanne Schmid; his sister and brother-in-law, Kathleen and John Buckmaster; and numerous beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends

Dan leaves behind a legacy that cannot be measured simply by accomplishments or titles. It lives in the people he served, the problems he helped solve, the faith he shared, the wisdom he offered, and most of all, in the family he loved so completely.

When his children needed encouragement with their own parenting challenges he shared these words: "Parenting is not for the faint of heart. It takes courage. Be courageous." His life reflected that same courage-a willingness to show up, to love deeply, to serve others, and to stand beside anyone who needed him.

Dan believed that when love is given fully, there is always a way forward: "With love, failure is not an option. When you take away the option of failure, love finds a way to win."

He will be deeply missed and loved forever and ever. Amen.

Services

A Rosary Service will be held on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at Nicoles Funeral Home, 157 C St NW, Ephrata, Washington.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, August 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 323 D St. SW, Ephrata, Washington, with burial immediately following.

A reception and celebration of Dan's life will follow the burial service at Saint Rose of Lima School Gym, 520 Nat Washington Way, Ephrata, Washington.