Mountain Ranch, CA…The following was written by Doug Schmiett the brother of Bill Schmiett. Broge is dead. Long live Broge. It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my brother Bill Schmiett. He passed away this morning (Dec 11). His battle with liver disease is over. He died with his wife and best friend, Julie, by his side. He battled with resolve until the very end. Bill made 66 trips around the sun.

Bill was a great brother, a loving husband, a father who wished he could have done more, and a friend to so many throughout his life. He worked with CDF/CalFire and the USFS. He was a private pilot, a sailor, stockbroker, car salesman, ski bum, Cliff Clavin award winner, waste water technician, DSL installer, union carpenter and shop steward, a realtor/broker/owner and a Hawaiian shirt wearing big loveable lug. And he was almost fluent in Spanish as well.

My broge, our nickname for each other, was a passionate man. Whether it was love, politics, religion or social issues of the day he definitely had his opinions, and you know what they say about opinions. Did he have a temper? Of course he did? Did he fess up when he was wrong or hurtful? He always did with me.

Oh, and he helped save the town of Mountain Ranch and their water supply while his own house burned in the Butte fire of 2015. Sadly the Butte fire has claimed its latest victim.

Perhaps the biggest joy I experienced in his last months was to be able to make him smile. When he smiled there was always a twinkle in his eyes. Sometimes it said “got ‘em with that one” when he was having a discussion with an antagonist but it was usually just him being happy that he was amongst friends and family.

So now he returns to the universe from which he came sixty-six years ago. Bill is survived by his wife Julie Shelby, mother Margery Couls, sister Gigi Culy, brother Doug Schmiett, son Erik Schmiett, daughter Kate Schmiett, nieces and nephews, cousins and great cousins.

When you have the chance lift your favorite beverage to the sky and salute my brother, my friend, Bill Schmiett. Oh and if you’re wearing a Hawaiian shirt that would be nice.