Schmidt, David J. (1891-1953)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Jan 8 p. 10

Birth date: 1891 Sep 19

DAVID J. SCHMIDT

David J. Schmidt was born September 19, 1891, on a farm near Hillsboro, Kansas. He was the son of Jacob D. and Maria (Unruh) Schmidt.

His school days were spent in Marion, Hillsboro, and Goessel (where he graduated from high school).

He was baptized in the Alexanderwohl Mennonite church in 1911. His membership was later transferred for a few years to the First Mennonite church in Newton.

On April 29, 1915, he was united in marriage to Mary Ediger, in Goessel, Kansas. The family lived on a farm at Goessel for ten years. For a three year period they lived in Newton, then in 1930, the family moved to Wichita, Kansas, and started worshipping with the group of General Conference Mennonites meeting in a home. When the group organized itself into a congregation in 1932, Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt brought their letters from the First Mennonite church, and became two of the 17 charter members of the Lorraine Avenue Mennonite church. Bro. Schmidt was the first of these charter members to be taken by death. He departed this life on Monday, December 22, 1952, at the age of 61 years.

Survivors include his wife, Mary; two sons, Simon E. of 1330 Greenwood, Ernest E. of 4602 Boston Drive; two daughters, Mrs. Lucille Phillips of 2048 Lulu and Mrs. Mary Ann Madison of 957 Nimitz Drive, Odessa, Texas; one brother Peter J. of Newton, Kansas; two sisters, Mrs. P. C. Voth of Newton, and Mrs. J. G. Warkentin of Hillsboro; four grandchildren; one great grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.

One sister, Margaret, preceded him in death three years ago.

He was employed by the City Ice company for 18 years and by the Boeing Airplane company for the past four years. He worked until a week before his death.

Bro. Schmidt was a very devoted and loving husband and father, loved his family, doing everything possible to insure the comfort and happiness of all. He knew he was not well for several months, but he worked right up to the end and attended church about a week before his operation.

Funeral services were held Friday, December 26, 1952, in the Byrd-Snodgrass Funeral Home, conducted by Rev. G. S. Stoneback, pastor of the Lorraine Ave. Mennonite church, and Dr. E. D. Schmidt, former pastor of the church. A quartet composed of Gus Pankratz, Reuben Janzen, Mrs. Edward Schmidt, and Alvin Franz sang “Near to the Heart of God” and “Safe In the Arms of Jesus,” Waldo Pankratz at the organ. Messages included “Home For Christmas” based on John 14: 1-5; and “The Surrendered Life,” based on the Schmidt’s wedding text, John 2:5. Burial was in Wichita Park cemetery.

The Mennonite obituary: 1953 Jan 13 p. 29