Schmutz, Frederich S. (1863-1953)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 19 Nov 1953 p. 9

Birth date: 1863

text of obituary:

FREDERICH S. SCHMUTZ

Death removed the last member of one of the early pioneer families of the Halstead, Kans. community when Frederich Samuel Schmutz passed away Friday evening, Oct. 23, 1953. He had come up town earlier in the afternoon and indicated to some friends that he was not feeling well. He then entered the Halstead Hospital during the afternoon after consulting with his physician.

He was born at Bohnfeld, Wurtenberg, Germany on March 10, 1863, the son of Philip and Christina Schmutz. From Bohnfeld, the family moved to Keugelhof, and in 1870 the family became immigrants to the pioneer lands of the American Midwest.

They spent four months in Summerfeld, Ill. before moving to a farm near Bolivar, Mo. In 1884, the Schmutz family moved to a farm south of Halstead, where Frederich maintained his residence until the spring of 1951. Following the death of his sister Magdalena in 1950, he decided to move into his residence in Halstead because of his advanced age.

He entered church activities in the Swiss Mennonite church near Elkton, Mo. and had been a member of the First Mennonite church of Halstead since 1884.

Survivors included nine nephews and two nieces, many grand nephews and grand nieces and a host of friends in the church and community.

Funeral services for Mr. Schmutz were conducted on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 27, at 2:00 o'clock with his pastor Rev. L. A. Habegger officiating. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Vogt and Mr. and Mrs. Dan M. Krehbiel sang: "Wie Findet die Seele die Heimat die Ruh" and " Near to the Heart of God." Mrs. Milton Ewy was the accompanist. As special selections she also played a group of church hymns which were favorites of Mr. Schmutz. Casket bearers were Henry Dyck, Floyd Holle, Ben T. Koehn, Paul Schroeder, Will Penner, and George Matthies.

Committal services were in charge of Dr. J. H. Langenwalter of Newton, who was a nephew of Mr. Schmutz. Burial was in the family lot in the Halstead cemetery with the directors of the Kaufman Funeral home in charge of funeral arrangements.

The Mennonite obituary: 1954 Feb 26 p. 64