GANSEVOORT --- Helmut "Red" Schmeelke, 72, of Gansevoort, passed away Sunday, April 14, 2013 at home, following a brief illness.
Born April 22, 1940 in Odisheim, Germany, he was the son of the late Henry and Margareta (Doecher) Schmeelke.
Red graduated from high school in Odisheim, Germany before relocating to the United States.
In 1963, he married Beverly Moulton at Glens Falls Baptist Church.
Red enlisted in the U.S. Army Infantry Nov. 22, 1960, serving six years as a tank driver, before his honorable discharge Nov. 21, 1966.
He recently retired as the caretaker of Bolton Rural Cemetery.
In his spare time, Red enjoyed rebuilding lawn tractors, NASCAR, sitting by the campfire, and above all, visiting with friends and family. He also liked fishing and hunting, as well as gardening, raising his chickens, and beekeeping. Red was a member of the Northeast Beekeeping Association.
In addition to his parents, Red was predeceased by a brother, Heinz Schmeelke, and a son-in-law, Todd Rivette.
Survivors include his beloved wife, Beverly Schmeelke of Gansevoort; four children, Michael Schmeelke of Ballston Spa, Pamela Rivette of Gansevoort, William (Tammy) Schmeelke of Whitehall, and Ernest (Rebecca) Schmeelke of Lake George; seven grandchildren, Tiffanie Porsch, Keith and Henry Kelly, Cory Pickett, Lianna Rivette, and Mirissa and Hannah Schmeelke; three great-grandchildren, Jeffry and Chloe Porsch, and Annabell Lovell; and friends.
Friends may call upon the family Thursday, April 18, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Maynard D. Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette St., Queensbury.
A memorial service will follow at 12 p.m. at the funeral home, with lay speaker, Cliff Gates officiating.
Burial, with military honors, will follow at 2 p.m. at Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Duell Rd., Schuylerville.
Following burial, friends are invited to join the family for a gathering to celebrate Red's life, at their family home.
Donations, in Red's loving memory, may be made to American Caner Society, 959 Route 9, Mount Royal Plaza, Queensbury, NY 12804, or to American Diabetes Association, 2 Pine West Plaza, Suite 204, Washington Ave. Ext., Albany, NY 12205.
Red's family wishes to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who helped them in their time of crisis, especially Shirley Harrington and Rose Moulton.
Condolences may be mailed to Maynard D. Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette St., Queensbury, NY 12804, or e-mailed through www.bakerfuneralhome.com.