Kreg and Dede Schmidt have been supporters of and advocates for Mayer Lutheran High School since their graduation from LHS (as it was referred to back in their day), Kreg in 1984 and Dede in 1983. Following graduation, Kreg went on to the University of Minnesota, where he earned his Bachelor of Civil Engineering, and Dede continued her education at the Cosmetology Training Center.
Dede then worked as a Regis Master Stylist from 1984 to 2016, while Kreg began his career as a Project Engineer with Engelhardt Associates, Inc., where he worked from 1986 to 2001. Engelhardt merged with Bolton and Menk, Inc., where Kreg continued working as a Project Manager/Client Service Manager from 2001 to 2011, and as Chief Operating Officer from 2011 to present.
Both Kreg and Dede have been active in service to their church, St. John’s Lutheran in Chaska, for more than 30 years. Kreg’s leadership roles included serving as congregational president for eight years, chairman of the board of elders, treasurer, on the finance committee, as the board of Christian education chair, the board of personnel chair, and the chair of several call committees.
Dede’s service to St. John’s includes serving as the president, vice president, secretary and LWML representative for the St. John’s Ladies Aid; as a women’s Bible study leader; as the church’s funeral coordinator; and as cheerleading coach, children’s handbell choir director, and a member of the Parent Teacher League for St. John’s school.
The Schmidts have also been active in giving back to their alma mater. Kreg has served on the MLHS Board of Directors, as a delegate, as chair of the Executive Director call committee that issued the call to current Executive Director Joel Landskroener, and as a member of the Booster Club, which included 12 years of grilling pork chops for the annual dinner. (Kreg estimates that he helped grill 10,000 pork chops!) Dede also helped with the Booster Club’s pork chop dinner, including serving 10 years as coordinator, and was active in the school’s Moms In Touch program for a dozen years.
Their community service includes seven years on the Chaska Planning Commission for Kreg, serving with Meals on Wheels for Dede, and work with Feed My Starving Children and Habitat for Humanity for both of them.
One of the greatest blessings of their time at “LHS” was that it’s the place where the two of them met. As Kreg relates the story, he asked Dede out for their first date about 30 feet from Mrs. Grimsley’s current office door, in the hallway that used to be called the “North 40.” He was thrilled that she said “Yes” and a bit unprepared for that answer, since he asked her out one week before he turned 16 and, as such, didn’t have his driver’s license yet. Needless to say, the driver’s test was scheduled for the day after his birthday and one of his maiden voyages as a driver was from Watertown to Chaska to pick up Dede for that first date! The rest, as they say, is a beautiful history of love, support, and countless blessings from our amazing God, with — God willing — more to come!
Kreg and Dede are the parents of three children, all MLHS graduates: Aaron (class of 2007), who is married to Ariel; Kaley (class of 2009), who is married to Bradley Hagen; and Nicole (class of 2013), who is married to Oliver Krause. They are also the proud grandparents of six wonderful grandchildren.