January 11, 1972 – February 17, 2023
Batavia – Dawn R. Schmidt, 51, of Batavia, formerly of Lincoln, passed away on Friday, February 17, 2023, at Northside Hospital Atlanta, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Services for Dawn will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Atlanta, Illinois. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. Rev. Narcis Katambe will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Lincoln.
Dawn was born on January 11, 1972, in Springfield, the daughter of Jack and Mary Ellen Wessbecher Leininger. She married Jeff Schmidt on January 22, 2000, in Lincoln.
Dawn graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree, Magna Cum Laude. She was employed by Resource 1 in Oak Brook.
Dawn was most proud of her two sons Ethan, “Big E” and Elliot “Little E,” and never missed the chance to share their successes and accolades with her family, friends, and co-workers. Her sons were the highlight of her life. She missed them dearly when they both left for college but could not have been prouder as they began their next adventure. She spoke to them daily making sure that they stayed on top of their academics. She loved cheering on the University of Georgia Bulldogs and Purdue Boilermakers, never missing a game. Murphy AKA “Murph,” our faithful four-legged friend, kept her on her toes when the boys headed off to college. Murphy brought a spark to the family that continues to shine to this day. She cherished and loved her nieces and nephews and was deeply loved by all of them.
She is survived by her husband, Jeff, sons Ethan and Elliot, sister Kim (Tom) Rybolt, brother Brett (Kara) Leininger, stepmother Vickie Leininger, Uncle Jim (Kaye) Wessbecher, nieces Emily, Gretchen, Faith, and Jade, and nephews Henry, John, Teddy, and Justin (Kendall), and great-nieces Gracie and Ellis.
She is preceded in death by her parents John S. Leininger and Mary Ellen Wessbecher Leininger.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Dawn’s name to 4 Paws for Ability, 207 Dayton Ave, Xenia, Ohio 45385 or via https://4pawsforabilitystore.org/products/memorial-donation-in-memory-of-dawn?fbclid=IwAR2Tt6sup-rAy9tctE_1r0w-zfEBgfZPjLxbe2VD61VErFWjK2nVa_K2PGw.
Services have been entrusted with Peasley Funeral Home in Lincoln.
