Bill was born on June 22, 1944, to Ewald and Olga (Stein) Schmidt in Columbus, Texas. He was raised on the family farm in Lone Oak, Texas, and enjoyed the company of a close-knit family of his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and older sister, JoAnn.

He attended Columbus schools and was a standout athlete in high school, playing football, baseball, and track. In the state track meet in 1962, Bill placed second on both the 100-yard dash and the 4x400 relay.

After graduating from Columbus High School in 1962, he attended Blinn Junior College in Brenham, where he played football and was on the track team. Then he transferred to Texas A&M University on a track scholarship, played on the football team, and majored in Range Sciences. After college, he entered the US Army, and attended boot camp in Ft. Polk, Louisiana. Bill went on to receive extra training at Ft. Bliss, then served his country in Vietnam as a Hawk Missile mechanic. He is survived by his children, Antony, Alyssa, and Aaron; stepdaughter, Sheryl Panos; several grandchildren; his sister, JoAnn (Johnny) Canik; niece, Tricia (John) Trostle, and special nephew, Robert (Cara) Canik. Funeral Mass for Bill will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 5, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Frelsburg, Texas. A parish rosary will be held in the church at 9:20 a.m. and burial will be at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery in Frelsburg. A reception will follow the burial at the parish Diamond Center. Memorials may be made to Sts. Peter and Paul Church Church, 1031 Church Lane, New Ulm, TX 78950, St. Roch Catholic Church, 1600 Frelsburg Rd., Alleyton, TX 78935, or a charity of one’s choice.

Online condolences may be given at www.hennekefuneralhome. com.