Schmidt, Fred G. (1892-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Oct 25 p. 8

Birth date: 1892 Sep 5

text of obituary:

FRED G. SCHMIDT

Fred G. Schmidt was born on Sept. 5, 1892, in the state of Illinois. As a very small boy he was placed in an orphanage. He only dimly remembered his parents.

He was adopted by a Mennonite family. Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Schmidt from Kansas. Here he attended school until his early teens. The family then moved to Oklahoma, settling south of Gotebo. Later his foster parents moved away, but Fred remained at Gotebo. He made his home with Rev. and Mrs. P. R. Voth. While there he attended the Gotebo Bible Academy.

He became convinced that he needed something to satisfy the longing of his soul, and accepted Christ as his Savior. He was baptized on Dec. 26, 1913, by Elder H. Riesen, and became a member of the Friedenstal church. Later after his school years, he worked in different places, making his own way.

After World War I he came to visit some of his war-time acquaintances in Washita county, Okla. where he met Matilda Schmidt, whom he married on Nov. 2, 1921. Not long after their marriage they united with the Herold Mennonite church, whose member he remained till his death.

In his early married years he took great interest in Sunday school work, serving for some time as superintendent. Later he liked to sing in the male chorus, and did so until sickness prevented his participation.

He went to stay with Mr. and Mrs. P. M. Pankratz in about the fall of 1938. He made this his home as long as they lived. He then stayed in this home until he became too ill to be by himself. With the aid of some friends he was able to enter the hospital in Clinton. It was a long siege for him, but he improved slowly so that after four months he could leave the hospital and enter a convalescent home. The last few months before his final illness he made his home with Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Schmidt near Cordell.

The later part of July of this year his health began to fail again and the first part of August he entered the hospital for the second time. Here he steadily lost ground even with all the special care he received. On the afternoon of Sept. 8 the Lord saw fit to take him to his reward and away from all the suffering which had been his lot. He reached the age of 64 years and three days.

He leaves to mourn his death three foster sisters, Mrs. J.E. Kerchenfaut and Mrs. Henry Gossman, both of Fresno, Calif., and Mrs. Helmuth Dyck, living in Canada; also four foster brothers, H. W. Schmidt, Theodore Schmidt and Ervin Schmidt, all of California, and Eldon Schmidt of Aberdeen, Idaho.

He easily made friends and there are a large number of them who would have liked to have him stay. We however grant him the rest he so much deserved, and which he now enjoys with his Lord.