Dr. Joseph Edward Schmiedicke

  Madison - Dr. Joseph Edward Schmiedicke, 71, son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, scholar, philosopher, educator, innovator, writer, analyst, strategist, debater, mentor, carpenter, craftsman, storyteller, genealogist, chef, organic gardener, chocolate lover, videographer, and Apple computer wizard, died peacefully on Tuesday, November 10, 2009, surrounded by family at the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center in Fitchburg, Wisconsin.   Joe was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on January 31, 1938, the oldest of Edward and Madeline Schmiedicke's eleven children. He was educated at St. Joseph's Seminary in Grand Rapids and attended the Catholic University of America in Washington DC as a Basselin Scholar for his undergraduate education.   Joe earned a Master's degree at Marquette University and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Educational Policy Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.   Joe chose to devote his 46-year career to the vision of the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters of Edgewood College and to their values of truth, justice, compassion, partnership, and community.   As Chair of the Department of Education, and later Dean of the School of Education, Joe was instrumental in the building of an outstanding teacher education program, preparing classroom teachers, school administrators, and district superintendents.   He was a curriculum innovator, continually creating new programs to meet the emerging needs of classroom teachers.   Joe was a pioneer in the application of information technology to the classroom, one of the first to recognize the powerful potential of computers in the school environment. Joseph is survived by his wife, Marsha Callahan; his son David (Cherie) of Madison; his daughters Mary (John Hong) of Destin FL, Lisa Schmiedicke Mure of Holderness NH, and Megan (Jim Fox) of Berwyn PA; and his grandchildren Peter, Laura and Anna Schmiedicke; Kai and Rain Hong; Caroline, Ella, and Maisy Mure; and Andrew, Christopher, Sarah and Madeline Fox.   Because of him, his wife, his children, and his grandchildren are strong, hard-working, committed, wise, respectful, clever, goofy, bright, confident, resourceful, and compassionate. He is further survived by his ten brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews too numerous to mention. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Marion Rajani Schmiedicke, and his parents.   The Paul C. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center fought side by side with Joe during his battle with cancer, UW Physical and Occupational Therapy kept Joe active longer than seemed possible, and St. Mary's Care Center cared for Joe for four months with extraordinary skill and humor, graciously accepting his advice and suggestions.   For the nursing staff at the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center, words cannot describe the tender and compassionate care they offered Joe on the last day of his life.   A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH, 2116 Hollister Avenue, Madison on Monday, November 16, at 11:00 a.m., with Father Pat Norris, O.P. officiating. Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 15, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison and at the Church on Monday, November 16, 2009 from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass.   Memorial gifts to honor Joe should be directed to the Joseph E. Schmiedicke Future Educator Award Fund at Edgewood College, 1000 Edgewood College Drive, Madison WI 53711 or to St. Mary's Care Center, 3401 Maple Grove Drive, Madison, WI 53719.   ""If I supply you a thought, you may remember it and you may not. But if I can make you think a thought for yourself, I have indeed added to your stature.""                                                                                                     Elbert Hubbard