Michael “Mike” Lynn Schmidt, age 73, of Loveland, Colo., passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, July 6, 2024. Mike was born in Newton, Kansas on August 7, 1950, and was the first born to Lela Mae Schmidt and Martin Schmidt.

Mike is survived by his lifelong love and wife Melissa, his children Darrin, Megan, and Dustin; his children’s spouses Karen and Tony; his grandchildren Kameron, Kaleb, Amelia, Evan, Juliana, Mischa, and Sabrina; his brothers Bruce and David; and his mother Lela.

Mike was born shortly after his parents, Martin and Lela, had moved to Newton, Kansas. Even as a young boy, his father, Martin, started taking him on customer service calls and exposing him to the methods of running a business. At the age of 10, Mike was put to work once again by his father to help build a new family home in Newton that remains in the family to this day.

At an early age, Mike and his brothers were challenged with games, puzzles, and crafts that required assembly. These skills culminated in his pre-teen years with Mike building a minibike and a go-kart from scratch, both of which he proceeded to use to terrorize the neighborhood, requiring his father to promise the Newton City Council that he would cool it. . . These experiences formed multiple skillsets in problem solving, engineering, and construction, which served Mike throughout his life.

Growing up in Newton, Kansas in the 1950’s and 1960’s when the hot-rod culture was sweeping across the country, Mike discovered what would become a lifelong love for muscle cars and motorsports. His teenage adventures included street racing late at night with his friends, as they drove their cars onto the railroad tracks for miles as a dare to each other. Because of this, he discovered a natural talent for maintaining and modifying cars—ultimately in an effort to go faster in the quarter mile or on the back roads around Newton!

In his late teens and early twenties, Mike had earned a reputation as a talented mechanic and drag racer both at the track and on the street, driving his notoriously quick 1965 Ford Falcon. He also included his brothers in his racing adventures, which ultimately inspired them to become passionate participants of the sport as well. As a young mechanic, Mike was also trusted with maintenance, taking delivery, and final inspections of some of the most iconic muscle cars that were sold in the area in the late 1960’s.

Mike’s destiny would take a turn in a couple of ways starting with annual family trips to Colorado during his childhood where he first discovered the sheer beauty and calling of adventure that the Colorado Rocky Mountains offered. Those experiences never left his heart.

Another twist of fate would occur just after graduating from high school when Mike met Melissa Ann Stamm, a fellow adventure-seeker. Mike and Melissa were married on June 6, 1970 in Newton, Kansas and moved to Loveland, Colorado in 1972.

Mike’s sense of adventure and love of motorsports quickly led him to off-roading. Throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, Mike and Melissa traversed virtually every off-road trail throughout the Colorado Rockies no matter how tame or frightening. The other adventure they embarked on was raising three kids. . .

Mike had an entrepreneurial spirit and he eventually charted his own course with his career. Around 1980, Mike financed and developed a Class-A industrial building on South Lincoln Avenue in Loveland, ran a mechanic shop, and led a team of mechanics.

In the 1990s, Mike started a brand-new career in commercial trucking, beginning with dirt hauling, which quickly led to building and renting out water trucks. Mike’s continuous pursuit of the perfect “permanent” career led him to heavy equipment hauling and the formation of his final company “Schmidt Enterprises”. For the last 30 years of his life, Mike put to use his full skillset in the creation, operation, and maintenance of Schmidt Enterprises. He enjoyed this final career tremendously; it was responsible for his many adventures throughout the scenic Rockies and the Front Range of Colorado.

Given his driving skills, mechanical talents, and the ability to overcome the most trying challenges, Mike brought home many stories of unique loads and extremely difficult situations including navigating steep tight hills, inclement weather, and mechanical mishaps.

In his personal life, Mike was a loving and supportive father, a husband that was a dedicated and loving provider to his wife, and a very proud grandfather. Throughout his 50+ years in Loveland, Mike made many friends who shared similar interests and enjoyed visiting with him regularly at his shop. Aside from his work, he also had many interests including WWII history, working on his 1965 Falcon, attending car and antique tractor shows, and hauling a WWII Sherman Tank for a good friend to various events. He also took the occasional trip, including one to Maui, Hawaii and Pearl Harbor. One of his simple pleasures was being entertained by the birds, rabbits, and squirrels playing in the backyard.

Fortunately, Mike was able to witness his children graduate from high school and college, get married, and start their careers; and he lived to spend many years watching his grandchildren grow up.

Mike will be deeply missed by his family and friends. No services are planned at this time. Memories of Mike and condolences for his family are welcome at resthavencolorado.com.