Nanette Rae Schmidt

Nanette "Nan" Rae Schmidt, 80, of Leesburg Fla., formerly of New Haven, passed away on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at home surrounded by her family. Born on February 15, 1944, in Elwood, she was the daughter of the late Edward and Charlotte (Burns) Boggess. She was a member of St. Joseph Hessen Cassell Catholic Church, Fort Wayne. She was the second born of four children. She married Robert F Schmidt on the 30th of Nov 1963, who preceded her in death in 2023 after nearly 60 years of marriage. Nan was always available for a kind word or a gentle touch. She believed in teaching her children about God, angels, kindness, love, treating others as you wanted to be treated, growing up to be whomever you wanted to be, consequences, honesty and "Can't never did anything". While also allowing them to be children and play, as long as they were home when the streetlights came on. Nan was a dog lover, receiving her education in grooming to later start her own business boarding, grooming, and training almost all breeds. In 1978 she got her first Yorkshire Terrier, started her own company, Tangletop; and went on to breed AKC registered Yorkies and Maltese for over 40 years. This was a true-life passion of hers. No telling how many she raised/trained to be champions or how many puppies she brought into this world with care, to be placed into loving homes (likely 400+). Holidays were her absolute favorite days, where she could decorate her lake house and have its doors open to family and friends. She provided warmth and love to all that entered her home, thriving in the chaos of family being together. What she loved the most was her grandbabies!! She could never get enough of them. Her kindness, love, and protection was always shown- even in death- by her passing in-between her great grandbabies birthdays, so they were able to have their best day. Nan's life goal was to be remembered as a kind person. It might not seem like a very ambitious goal to some, however, imagine that; to live 80 years and no matter what life gave her, she responded with kindness. She always chose kindness. She put others feelings before her own and never wanted to "be a bother". In this crazy world, she succeeded in her wish, living 80 years as a kind, loving person. We can only strive to measure up to her!! She is survived by her children, Scott (Jeanette) Schmidt, Tami Hoffman, Jeff Schmidt, and Melissa Miller; siblings, Edward (Anne) Boggess, Richard (Julie) Boggess, and Judy (William) Garwood; nine grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren. Mass of Christian Burial is 11 a.m. Saturday, August 17, 2024, at St. Joseph Hessen Cassel Catholic Church, 11521 US Hwy 27 South, Fort Wayne with visitation one hour prior. Visitation is also 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, August 16, 2024, at Harper's Community Funeral Home, 740 St. Rd. 930 E., New Haven with a rosary at 4 p.m. Preferred memorials to Indiana Yorkie Rescue, https://yorkie.rescueme.org/Indiana Inurnment in the church cemetery. For online condolences please visit www.harperfuneralhome.com.

Nanette Rae Schmidt

February 15, 1944 - August 3, 2024