Schmuckal Family Contributes $250,000 to ER Campaign

Art Schmuckal is encircled by his four children, from left Barbara Benson, Don Schmuckal, Paul Schmuckal, and Evelyn Richardson.

Over the years, the Art and Mary Schmuckal family has used one consistent benchmark for supporting a project: "Does it benefit the community?"

When the answer is yes, Schmuckal family funds are frequently committed to the cause, often quietly and behind the scenes. Over the years, Art and Mary Schmuckal have sponsored countless projects, from construction of buildings to the very successful Boots for Kids program.

"They've been involved in and helped with so many big and small things," said Barbara Benson, the youngest of Art and Mary's four children. "The question to always ask is 'Who can you help?'"

This time, the answer to that question is the more than 41,000 people a year who need Emergency Services at Munson Medical Center.

Munson Healthcare Regional Foundation has received a $250,000 gift from the Art and Mary Schmuckal Family Foundation to support Munson's ER Expansion project. The $10 million ER Campaign has to date raised $7.2 million.

"Being natives, we've watched the hospital grow and expand, and we know how necessary this project is for the community," said Evelyn Richardson, also a daughter of Art and Mary.

Art Schmuckal founded an oil company, and then quietly used his resources to improve the community that has been his life-long home.

Art Schmuckal, a life-long Traverse City businessman and civic leader, has had an ongoing interest in medical care in the community. He served as Chairman of the Grand Traverse County Board of Supervisors when plans were being made to build a new county Medical Care Facility adjacent to Munson Medical Center in the 1950s. The plan represented a novel, cost-effective approach by combining some county and hospital ancillary services, such as laundry and pharmacy.

Art Schmuckal, in fact, turned the first spade of earth at the groundbreaking for the new Medical Care Facility in 1958. That building was dismantled earlier this year to make room for the four-story structure that will house the expanded Emergency Department on the ground floor.

The Story of Art and Mary
Mary Hoffer grew up in Petoskey and attended business school in Traverse City. She was working as a bookkeeper and teller at Traverse City State Bank when she met a young dairy farmer named Art Schmuckal. In 1945, the two were married at St. Mary's Church in Hannah, where Art was born and raised. He was a member of the first graduating class of St. Mary's of Hannah School.

Art supplemented his Chum's Corners dairy farm business by selling Surge milking products in nine northern Michigan counties. By 1955, Art was looking for another sideline, and he joined forces with George Slane to form the Slane and Schmuckal Oil Company. The two men began with two small service stations. They took turns driving their oil truck and making home deliveries. George and Art knocked on a lot of doors and relied on word of mouth advertising to build their business. After a few years, Art purchased George's share of the business and the Schmuckal Oil Company was created. Art became Chairman of the Board and Mary served as Secretary/Treasurer.

Throughout their 53 years of marriage, they remained a devoted team. "You never thought of one without the other," Barbara said. "They were fun — there was always a lot of laughter and friends doing things together. They had a wide scope of good friends of all ages."

The Schmuckal family today includes Art, Paul, and Don Schmuckal, Evelyn and Michael Richardson, Barbara and Chuck Benson, as well as 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A 'Strong Sense of Direction'
The Art and Mary Schmuckal Family Foundation was established following Mary's death in 1999. "It was something that Mom wanted to do and all of us kids thought it was wonderful," Barbara said. "She was an angel. She was sweet and caring. She always let people know how important they were to her by remembering birthdays and anniversaries with a card and a little note. She was committed to making her family, friends, and those in need feel loved. She was my best friend."

Barbara describes her father as a very smart man with a penchant for playing practical jokes. "He just enjoys life. He expects a lot, but he's also very fair. He taught us that if you're going to do something, do it right and give it your all. He and Mom did everything 110 percent, or they didn't do it."

"What's always impressed me about my parents is they've been in the background," Evelyn said. "Their deep belief as Catholics is that works are important. They've been so involved in the Christian community and that has spilled over into the general community. They have given us a strong sense of direction and I see that in my siblings and their children. The important thing is not how much you'll get paid or what you are entitled to, but to return back to the community what you've been blessed to have."