Dennis Schmidt

Dennis J. Schmidt, 73, of Champaign Il passed away unexpectedly on January 11.2026 at Carle Hospital.

Dennis was the best of human beings. He was positive, dependable, productive, and caring to all with whom he had contact. Plus, he had a keen sense of fun.

Dennis began his life’s journey in Aroma Park, near Kankakee, the son of John Phillip, a postman, and Beryl Schmidt ,a homemaker ,for the 10 Schmidt children :Steve, who passed in 2021(Cassandra), Judy Ponton, Janet Hanson, Sue Harpin (Ron), Donna Schmidt,, Mary Prairie (Brian), David Schmidt (Jeanne), Randy Schmidt (Jane) and Cathy Betourne (Scott). The Schmidt Thanksgiving gathering was an annual treat for Dennis with so many wonderful dishes and pies, family games, and conversation. The annual brothers’ weekend was also a favorite event for him.

Dennis attended Bishop McNamara HS and was an Illinois State Scholar, working as a stockboy in the local IGA.

Dennis began his college education in 1970 in the Pre-Engineering Program at Kankakee Community College. He came to Champaign to attend the U of I and never left. He earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering with High Honors in 1975 and his master's degree in civil engineering in 1981. Dennis was the quintessential engineer. This was his outlook on life. He was a problem solver.

Dennis began his career in 1974 with Daily and Assoc.He went on to a position with the UC Sanitary District as the assistant district engineer, working until November ,1989 when he started work for the City of Champaign as an assistant City Engineer where he led projects improving stormwater drainage throughout the community, the extension of south Fourth Street connecting St. Mary’s Road and Windsor Road, and the taming of the Boneyard Creek through Campustown. Dennis was always creative and tenacious in his approach. When the leadership position of the UC Sanitary District opened in August 1997, Dennis was chosen as the district’s new executive director and served until 2004, where he fostered a spirit of intergovernmental cooperation, long range planning and oversaw the expansion of the Southwest Treatment Plant.

In 2004 he was appointed as the City’s Public Works Director and he served in that role until July,2020. It is impossible to fully describe his impact on the city. During his tenure as the City's Public Works Director, he elevated the Department through his unrelenting expectation of excellent work. He recruited and maintained an outstanding engineering and departmental staff.

Dennis developed and encouraged engineers and the entire Public Works staff to reach excellence in their work product, the development of innovative programs and superior public service. Through his example, he managed a department that was responsive to citizen needs. He was a good listener.

During his tenure, the Public Works Department undertook numerous projects including the creation of the Mutual Aid System for Public Works Departments, implementation of the Municipal Electric Aggregation Program, the construction of the Second Street, Preservation Pond and Glenn Park Basins, major drainage projects in the Washington Street and John Street Watersheds, the implementation of the Stormwater Utility Fee, the Multimodal Corridor Enhancement Project, the construction of the Hill Street Parking Deck, numerous transportation and road construction projects including the Curtis Road Interchange, Windsor Road Bridge widening, the extension of South Fourth Street from St. Mary's Road to Windsor, the extension of Olympian Drive and many other projects too numerous to mention;

Dennis was professionally active, even after retirement, serving the Illinois Chapter of the American Public Works Assoc. as its current Treasurer and the Illinois Public Service Institute as its current Chair. He also had been an officer and member of the Water Pollution Control Federation, National Society of Professional Engineers, the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers, and the Illinois Association of Wastewater Agencies.

Dennis was involved in and held leadership posts in many community organizations, including youth football, basketball and baseball, band boosters, and United Way/Combined Charities. For many years, he was the local coordinator of Math Counts, a mathematics competition for high school students throughout the state...

His church particularly benefitted from Dennis’s giving spirit. For many years, the church could rely on Dennis (along with his wife Margaret), to tend to its building and grounds work, the food ministry as well as other needs of the congregation.

Dennis was a true friend to many, whether over coffee with former employees, a couple’s night with a little beer and a few games or going on weekly walks and to Engineering Open House. Dennis remembered details of the lives of his friends and was ever attentive.

Dennis married Margaret Ford on June 10, 1988. She survives along with Jason (Michelle) Ford, and grandchildren, Brian Ford (Bailey) and Kaitlyn Ford.

Dennis and Margaret were true Illini fans regularly attending volleyball and women’s basketball games and being avid supporters of the Marching Illini.

Dennis and Margaret were travelers, and they enjoyed visiting civil war battlefields. They took road trips throughout the USA staying at Hampton Inns or the VRBO that they selected with great care and annually spent time in New Orleans and the Gulf coast always visiting relatives along the way. Dennis and Margaret were partners in all their gardening and bird care undertakings. Dennis was a beekeeper, producing jars of honey which he would share freely.

Dennis had no greater pleasure than spending time with his wife and family and especially his grandchildren, perhaps playing a board game or cards, but always having fun and being intensely proud of their accomplishments and growth.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dennis's name to Westminster Presbyterian Church,1700 Crescent Drive in Champaign, IL. 61821.

Please join his family in sharing memories, photos and videos on his tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center’s Champaign Chapel 710 N. Neil St. Champaign, IL. 61820 on Monday, January 19, 2026, at 2pm. A memorial visitation will be held prior at 1pm.