Schmidt, Theodore James (1956-1973)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1973 Nov 29 p. 3

Birth date: 1956 Oct 27

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1974 Jan 10 p. 11

text of obituary:

RUTH WENGER SCHMIDT ­THEODORE JAMES SCHMIDT

Ruth Wenger Schmidt, born Aug. 22, 1921, at Aberdeen, Idaho, was the daughter of Olivia Koppes and Ira J. Wenger. She died together with her son Theodore at Pesotum, Ill. on Nov. 25, 1973, as a result of an automobile accident.

She received her elementary and high school education in the Aberdeen community and became a member of the First Mennonite Church. Further education included training at Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Bethel College, Bethel Deaconess Hospital, and New York Theological Seminary.

On Aug. 1, 1947, she was married to Orlando Schmidt in Aberdeen. Two sons, John and Theodore were born in 1951 and 1956.

She began her profession as a registered nurse in Idaho at American Falls Hospital, later serving hospitals in New York City, Mountain Lake, Minn., Newton, Kan. and Elkhart, Ind., also serving as school nurse at Hesston College.

She was at heart a person committed to meeting the needs of people. In addition to serving her family and patients in the hospital she had a love for international students from many countries. Especially close were Bernard and Emmanuel Muganda of Tanzania and Tomio Uchimura of Japan, all of them having lived in the home for a while. At the time of her death she was serving as a deaconess of her congregation, the Hively Avenue Mennonite Church of Elkhart, Ind.

Friends remember her as one who possessed a "quiet, loving radiance" while helping others, expressing a "trusting naturalness, profound simplicity and purity of spirit," which communicated faith, hope and love "better than many words."

Theodore James Schmidt was born Oct. 27, 1956, at Mountain Lake, Minn., son of Ruth Wenger and Orlando Schmidt. He died together with his mother at Pesotum, Ill. on Nov. 25, 1973, as a result of an automobile accident.

In 1960 he moved with his family to Hesston, Kan. and in 1962 to Elkhart, ind. where he received his elementary and high school education. At the time of his death he was a junior at Concord High School. He was active in music and athletics in addition to his regular school work. He enjoyed the activities of his youth group at Hively Avenue Mennonite Church and participated in a number of Outspokin' bike trips.

Ted was an avid reader and a hard worker. In a recent issue of his school paper he was quoted as saying: " . . . I am most thankful for life since so many things come with it. I am thankful for being alive, but this is surely only because of my situation. Others are not as fortunate."

Burial for both Ruth and Theodore took place on Nov. 28 at Violett Cemetery in Goshen, Ind. Memorial services were held on Dec. 2 at the Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries, Elkhart. Members of the immediate family include John and Orlando Schmidt of Elkhart and Malcolm Wenger of Newton, Kan.