Schmidt, John F. (1890-1963)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1963 Feb 21 p. 9

Birth date: 1890 May 25

text of obituary:

HERALD Publishing Company Board of Directors – Standing, l. to r., H. J. Reimer, Canton; John F. Schmidt, Newton, who died unexpectedly last Sunday; J. Richard Blosser, Newton; Walter A. Claassen, Whitewater; Dr. Melvin Gingerich, Goshen, Ind. Seated, l. to r., Menno Schrag, Newton, vice-president; E. E. Flickner, Moundridge, treasurer; Rev. H. J. Dyck, Elbing, president, and Jac. A. Wedel, Moundridge, secretary.

Herald Publishing Co. Board Member Dies

Stricken Four Days Before Annual Meeting

John F. Schmidt, 72, member of the Herald Publishing Co. board of directors, died unexpectedly Sunday morning after having been in failing health for several weeks. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Bethel Deaconess Hospital.

Only the day before, he and Mrs. Schmidt moved from Goessel to a home on East First St. in Newton.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Alexanderwohl Church, Rev. Aaron Epp and Rev. Levi Koehn officiating.

Mr. Schmidt, a farmer in the Goessel community most of his life, had been a member of the board since 1952 and was up for re-election at the annual meeting of the company which convenes this afternoon (Feb. 21) in the company's assembly room. The meeting will receive the 1962 business reports and officers will be elected for the coming year.

Mr. Schmidt was born May 25, 1890 in Marion County, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Johann Schmidt. In 1917 he married Mary Richert, who passed away in 1955. In 1958 he married Mrs. Helen Reimer, who survives.

Among other survivors are a daughter, Mrs. Henry S. Hiebert of Walton; a son, Carl Schmidt of Haysville; two step-daughters, Mrs. Robert Chase of Slidell, La., and Mrs. Willard Schmidt of rural Newton; and one step-son, Raymond Reimer of Canton.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1963 Apr 4 p. 8

text of obituary:

JOHN F. SCHMIDT

John F. Schmidt, son of Johann Schmidt and Helena Funk, was born May 25, 1890 in Marion County, Kansas. He received his elementary education in Goessel with an additional two years in the Goessel Preparatory School and one year at the Bethel College Academy.

He was baptized upon his confession of faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior on May 15, 1910 by Rev. Abraham Ratzlaff and received into the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church near Goessel.

As a young man he joined several families in their trek to DuBois, Idaho in the establishment of a new farming community. Since this community did not develop, he came back to the Goessel community.

On Dec. 13, 1917, he entered holy wedlock with Mary Richert and pursued the occupation of farming. On June 10, 1920 they became charter members of the Goessel Mennonite Church and were active in the life of the church. On April 23, 1925 they adopted Hazel and Carl as their children. In 1955 this union was severed when Mrs. Schmidt met death in an auto accident. Three children had preceded her in death.

On Feb. 1, 1958 he married Mrs. Helena Janzen Reimer. Rev. P. P. Buller officiated. About a year later they took up the custodial work of the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church.

Mr. Schmidt had always been an active church worker, having served as Sunday school teacher for many years. He was also a past member of the Gordon Elementary School board and held several offices in the local township. From 1948 to 1950 he was manager of the MCC warehouse in Newton. He was a member of the Herald Publishing Co. board at the time of his death.

He had good health until about a year ago, when he developed a heart condition and needed to go to the hospital on several occasions. They had completed their ministry as custodians of the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church and moved to Newton, Kan. Feb. 16 to spend their allotted time in retirement. Sunday morning, Feb. 17, 1963, after the reading of Scripture and prayer at the breakfast table, Mr. Schmidt suffered a heart attack, which ended his earthly life at the age of 72 years.

Those remaining to cherish the memory of his life are his wife, Helena; two children, Hazel and husband Henry Hiebert of Walton, and Carl and wife Erma of Haysville; three stepchildren, Rubena and husband Robert Chase of Slidell, La., Raymond and wife Neva of Rt. 2, Canton, Louise and husband Willard Schmidt of Rt. 2, Newton; 17 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; five sisters, Mrs. P. V. Unrau of Chouteau, Okla., Mrs. Anna Schmidt and Mrs. Paul Funk of Goessel, Mrs. H. Y. Schmidt of Newton, and Mrs. P. L. Goertz of Lehigh; three brothers, Gerhard of Goessel, William of Hesston, Herman of Newton, and a host of friends and relatives.

The Mennonite obituary: 1963 Mar 12 p. 172

text of obituary:

John F. Schmidt, Goessel (Kan.) Church, born May 25, 1890, and died Feb. 17. His widow, a son, a daughter, and three stepchildren survive.