Michael's was preceded in death by his parents, one sister Catherine. He is survived by his sister, Theresa, two sons: Charles and John Schmerling, several nieces, nephews and his six cats, that he adored. Michael enjoyed hunting, fishing, cooking and was a history buff. Mr. Schmerling graduated from John F. Kennedy High School, Taylor, Michigan. He was a truck driver for ten years, and prior to driving truck, Michael was a dispatcher for barges in Louisiana for twenty five years.