Schmidt, Adolf (1918-1990)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 1990 Aug 10 p. 32

Birth date: 1918

text of obituary:

ADOLF SCHMIDT

Adolf Schmidt of Clearbrook, B.C. passed away June 20. He was born Apr. 17, 1918 to David and Wilhelmina Schmidt in Wymyschle, Poland. When he was 6, his father died. He only completed grade 4 because he was busy herding cows for his mother and brothers. He then worked on farms and in a store. He accepted Jesus, was baptized in August, 1938 by Gustav Ratzlaff and joined Wymyschle MB Church. In 1940 he was conscripted into the German Army. His mother passed away in 1941. He served on the Russian front, was injured and was captured in North Africa. After several years in refugee camps in England and Germany, his brother Abram helped him immigrate to Arnold, B.C. in November, 1948. He worked in the hop yards. He married Selma Derksen in Yarrow (B.C.) MB Church Aug. 20, 1949. He worked as a hired hand on a Sumas Prairie (B.C.) dairy farm, then bought a small farm in Arnold. The farm grew to over 50 acres and 100 cows. In 1974 they sold the farm and moved to Clearbrook. They lived next to Bakerview MB Church and became members and custodians, as they had done in Arnold. In later years he traveled to Europe, the Holy Land and South America. Family, friends and church attendance were important elements in his life. He is mourned by his wife; children David of Chilliwack, B.C., Linda of Kelowna, B.C., Walter of Brampton, Albert of Clearbrook, John of Clearbrook, Esther Hoekstra of Granum and Anita Chappell of Clearbrook; 9 grandchildren, 1 sister and 1 brother. The funeral was June 25 in Bakerview MB Church, with Harry Heidebrecht and Otto Derksen ministering.