Ludwig P. Schmidt

Ludwig Paul Schmidt, died peacefully on September 29, 2021 following a brief but brave battle with cancer.

Born in December 1940, to Paul and Anna Schmidt, Lou’s early years were spent near his birth town of Thumsenreuth in Bavaria. After losing his father in World War II, Lou was raised by his mother and his four older sisters, Hildegard, Anna-Marie, Betty and Greti. Though resources were scarce, the house was filled with much love and laughter.

Following a three-year apprenticeship as a chimney sweep in Munich, Lou left Germany seeking adventure and opportunity in America. He arrived in 1960 settling in Smithtown, NY on Long Island. It wasn’t long before Lou started to spend weekends upstate and his love for the Catskill Mountains was born.

In 1978, Lou became the second owner of Traphagen’s Honey. The store known as “the sweetest place in the Catskills” has been host to generations of locals and vacationers. Established in 1917, it is the oldest continuously operating business in Hunter, NY. Prior to building Traphagen’s into a self sustaining business, Lou enjoyed many years working home construction, landscaping and restaurant management.

Over the years, Lou, with the help of his wife Fritzie whom he married in 1986, expanded Traphagen’s. It went from a simple “Mom and Pop” store to a gourmet shop featuring honey, and other products from small business owners across the country. Traphagen’s made products for Zabar’s, Dean & Deluca, and Lou and Fritzie also attended various northeast venues, including the Hartford Flower Show, Philadelphia Flower Show, and other events in nearby counties of New York.

While the honey drew folks in, it was the friendliness of Lou that kept folks coming back. Lou was a generous person who loved to meet customers and talk to them about honeybees, German cars, beer, plants & trees, and about anything one could think. His kindness and energetic personality was contagious and people loved him far and wide.

Lou was predeceased by his first wife Lenore, sister Betty and husband Honey, sister Greti and husband Bernhard, and brother-in-laws Richard & Walter. He is survived by wife Fritzie, sisters Hildegard and Anna-Marie, daughters Kristina and Kirsten (Sean Murtagh), brother-in-law Robert Jauch (Barbara), nephews Matthew, Michael & Jorchim, nieces Sylvia, Marion, Margit, Hildegard, Ulli, Jutta, Elke, their wives, husbands and great nieces and nephews in the US and Germany.

Calling hours will take place on Saturday, October 16, 2021 from 9:00 to 11:00 am at the Aston-Basagic Funeral Home, 7742 Main Street, Hunter, NY followed immediately by a memorial service.

​In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Lou’s honor to Greene County Women’s League - Cancer Support at P.O. Box 341, Round Top, NY 12473 or Resurrection Lutheran Church - Food Pantry at P.O. Box 563, Cairo, NY 12413.