Allen William Schmidt

COTTAGE GROVE - Allen William Schmidt, age 79, of Cottage Grove and Los Alamos, N.M., passed away serenely on Monday, July 6, 2026.

Allen is survived by his loving wife, Caryn Sue Schmidt; devoted children, Peter (Kimberly) Schmidt, Katrina (Neal) Martin and Nathan (Laurel) Van Schmidt; grandchildren, Samantha Schmidt, Katherine Schmidt, Elliott Martin and Daphne Martin; siblings, Robert (Mitzi) Schmidt, Ron (Debbie) Schmidt and Carolyn (Ted) Ritter; sister-in-law, Christine Stadler (John Niffenegger); brother-in-law, Donald (Kathy) Stadler; and other beloved nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, June Schmidt; his father, Oliver Schmidt; father-in-law, Donald Stadler and mother-in-law, Lucille (Sue) Stadler.

His deep dedication to his family was evident in actions as big as building huge birthday mazes for his children to as small as reading aloud to sick grandchildren even while immunocompromised. He was a creative storyteller, spinning many fictional yarns his children and grandchildren reveled in! Allen was an extremely loving and supportive husband to his wife Caryn; their last outing together was to celebrate their 51st wedding anniversary. He left decades of carefully indexed journals, photography, and videography as a record of precious memories - one of his greatest works and gifts to his family.

His love for his family was matched only by his love of God. A blissfully devout man who meditated for hours every day, he was a community leader in his church, organizing a global newsletter that coordinated prayers for devotees of the Self-Realization Fellowship. He loved to play devotional songs. He sincerely cared for the world and its suffering, fervently praying for peace and harmony year after year and volunteering and giving to the local food pantry, global poverty, and other causes.

Allen’s defining attribute was his boundless positivity, which he used to inspire thousands of people over the course of his life as a teacher, online community leader, and friend. He taught and authored textbooks for systems analysis, web development, and other classes at Madison College for 31 years, helping educate countless students in the emerging computer sciences. In his nearly two-decade battle with cancer, he helped coordinate an interstate support group and constantly cheer-led his fellow fighters with his optimism. He always saw the best in people, and that genuine warmth fostered a loving group of friends around the globe. Always enraptured by the beauty of the natural world, he camped across the U.S., travelled to nearly every continent, and possessed a love of astronomy (and Star Trek) that he enthusiastically shared with his children, grandchildren, and students.

In his life he seamlessly blended playful joy with diligent work. Even in retirement, most nights he would work late into the evening on various projects. He was often happiest when he was serving others. He nourished his beloved family and friends by shopping for and cooking healthy food and snacks. His family is grateful he can at last set down this work to get some proper heavenly “R&R” after a long and successful life, even as we will dearly miss his tender-hearted presence.

The family would like to express their boundless gratitude to Dr. Natalie Callander, Allen’s multiple myeloma specialist for over a decade; the wonderful staff at the UW Carbone Cancer Center, for their compassionate care; and the Madison and Santa Fe myeloma support groups for their invaluable informational and emotional support.

A memorial service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 12 noon on Saturday, August 15, 2026. Family and friends who wish to view the service via LIVESTREAM may visit Allen’s obituary page at www.gundersonfh.com at the time of the service and click on "Watch Now" in the Webcast section. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday.

Feel free to leave a cherished memory or kind word on Allen’s Tribute Wall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heifer International, (heifer.org) an organization that supports small farmers and their families globally. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420