Sara Braasch Schmidt

Notice Sara Braasch Schmidt of McCall passed away on June 5, 2016 after a courageous and inspiring battle with triple negative breast cancer. Sara was born September 26, 1970 in Watsonville, CA to Leroy “Red” and Catherine (Hopkins) Braasch. Sara graduated from Payette High School in 1988 and the College of Idaho in 1992 with honors. She was active in student government, sports, 4-H and FFA. Sara was especially appreciative of the life skills she learned in FFA from prepared public speaking, parliamentary procedure, service as a State Officer and employment with the National FFA’s Washington Leadership Conference. After growing up on a ranch and raising sheep and cattle, Sara’s lifelong passion was agriculture. She never met a farmer or rancher she didn’t want to visit with! Highlights of Sara’s professional career included service on Capitol Hill during the 1996 Farm Bill for Senator Larry Craig and as Executive Vice President of the Idaho Cattle Association. After that she was appointed by President George W. Bush’s to serve as Regional Assistant Chief of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. In recent years she was President of her own company, Summit Business Solutions. Even though she received many awards and served in various leadership roles, Sara was most thankful for the people and places she learned so much from. She met the love of her life, Jim Schmidt, on December 7, 2004 in Las Vegas. They were married on April 26, 2007 in Asolo, Italy. Together they enjoyed life thoroughly and appreciated their many opportunities to fish, camp, travel, cook and just spend time together. Sara is survived by her loving husband, Jim; stepson, Douglas Schmidt; stepdaughter, Angela (Etienne) Laubignat; parents, Red and Cathi Braasch; grandmother, Donna Anderson and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Sara was preceded in death by her grandparents Ulrich and Lauretta Braasch. The entire family is grateful to Dr. Dan Zuckerman, Mari Beth Stein, Diana McDonagh, Mark Sullivan, Alan Shaw, Aime Bartholomeus and all of the world-class caregivers at Mountain States Tumor Institute. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Sara Braasch Schmidt Endowment designated within the Idaho FFA Foundation, PO Box 870, Meridian, ID 83680 or to Heartland Hunger and Resource Center, PO Box 1929, McCall, ID 83638. The family will greet friends and acquaintances at 10:00 AM on Monday, June 13th at St. Mark’s Catholic Community, 7960 W. Northview St. in Boise, funeral mass will follow at 11:00 AM. A luncheon will immediately follow Mass and then everyone is invited to participate in a Celebration of Life at 1:00 PM also at St. Mark’s. Interment will follow at the McCall Cemetery in a private family ceremony at a later date. Services are under the direction of Accent Funeral Home, Meridian.Sara Braasch Schmidt, 45, of McCall and Meridian, died Sunday, June 5, 2016 at her home. Services are under the direction of Accent Funeral Home, Meridian. 888-5833 *See Service Information Page