One of the co-founders of U.S. Venture was laid to rest this week and his son is looking back on Art Schmidt’s life.
Schmidt was 93. He started what was then the Schmidt Brothers Oil Company in Kimberly in 1951. He bought a fuel oil route with his brother, Ray.
Art’s son John Schmidt is now the president. He thinks his father was the entrepreneurial spirit behind the company. He says Art saw opportunity where other people saw risk.
John Schmidt says it was also important to his father and the rest of the family to help others in the community and other parts of the world.
U.S. Venture is now one of the largest privately-held companies in Wisconsin.
