Margot Schmidt

Schmidt, Margot, 57, passed away Wednesday, July 25 at home with her family at her side.

Margot was a native of Reinfeld, Germany, a German citizen, and a Permanent Resident of the US, living in Louisville for the last 21 years. She was born on April 6, 1955 in Bad Oldesloe, Germany, to Horst and Lina Späder as their first child.

After graduating high school, she joined the then government owned and now called Deutsche Telekom. She entered the Deutsche Telekom's long and intense education process to finally be promoted to a government official. She had a successful career with the Deutsche Telekom, working in management positions in Lübeck, Berlin, Würzburg, and Hannover, before following her husband on behalf of his employer as an expatriate to the US.

Margot adjusted quickly to her new environment. After finally being allowed by immigration law to work again, she made the bold move to develop a completely new career path. Working as a bookkeeper for the engineering consulting firm Senler, Campbell & Associates, Inc., she enjoyed being at the center of all business activities, interacting with management, employees, clients, contractors, service providers, and a wide range of businesses and organizations. She also played key roles as an avid volunteer in her subdivision, her son's schools, and in the larger German community of Louisville. She was the driving force and organizer of the German Women's Group, uniting long term Louisville residents of German decent and helping new German expatriate families to adjust to their new life in the US. She was always there to help others and touched many lives. She loved to decorate her and her friends' homes, was proud of her flower garden, and promoted healthy nutrition and an environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Margot was preceded in death by her father Horst Späder. She is survived by her husband of 36 years, Manfred, son Sven Patrick, and her family in Germany, including her mother, Lina Späder, her brothers Michael and Jörn Späder, as well as many other family members.

Upon Margot's request, she has been cremated and her remains will be buried later this year at her family's gravesite in Germany.

Instead of the traditional memorial service, a "Celebration of Margot's Life" event will be held on September 1 at 5:00 pm at the Clubhouse of the Owl Creek Subdivision, 10607 Hobbs Station Rd. In a casual atmosphere, her friends and colleagues will listen to and share their own unique stories from Margot's past. Please come prepared with your own stories how Margot impacted your life. Dress code is casual, food and drinks will be provided. It will be a joyful event, exactly the way Margot would have wanted it.

Margot's Husband and Son are participating in the 200-mile relay race, Hood To Coast, to raise money in Margot's honor to support the American Cancer Society. Donations to fight cancer are being accepted on the web at www.FightingCancerToTheCoast.org (click "Donate", search for the name "Manfred Schmidt", click "Donate Now", and follow the instructions). Donation forms will also be available at Margot's Life Celebration Event for offline donations.