Schmidt, Henry U. (1879-1965)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1965 Oct 21 p. 8

Birth date: 1879 Jul 12

text of obituary:

REV. HENRY U. SCHMIDT

Rev. Henry U. Schmidt, son of Isaac B. and Aganetha (Unruh) Schmidt, was born July 12, 1879 at Avon, S. D.; departed this life Aug. 12, 1965 at the age of 86 years and 30 days.

He grew up on his parents' farm and with the youth of the Friedensberg Church in the Avon community. In the summer of 1894 he gave his heart and life to Christ and was baptized in the local church on June 28, 1896. In the fall of 1897 he entered Bethel College, Newton, Kan. He spent two years here. He came back and taught school five years in South Dakota.

On April 25,1901, he was married to Katie Boese. To this union were born four sons and three daughters.

In 1901 the church at Avon called him to become a minister and together with David Schultz he was ordained. From 1901 to 1907 he spent part time as minister and also taught school.

In 1907 he with the family moved to Taloga, Okla. where he served the Mennonite church and also taught school. In 1909 they moved to Vona, Colo. where a group from South Dakota had already settled, who had called him to be pastor of the Friedensberg Church. Here they filed on a homestead. Besides farming, he served the church and taught school. He also helped out in other small churches in the surrounding areas part time.

In March 1920 his dear wife and our mother passed away.

In the fall of 1920 we moved to Meno, Okla. where he was called to teach school. In March 1921 the New Hopedale Church of Meno called him to serve as pastor, which he accepted.

On Feb. 20, 1921 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Caroline Kane. They made their home on a farm south of Meno. Here he served the church for 27 yaers [sic]. As he received only meager salary, he could not put his whole time into the church work, so he farmed and also taught at the Oklahoma Bible Academy for a number of years. After his retirement he helped out at various places. They made their home in Meno the last years.

Father spent much time visiting the church members, especially when there was sickness.

He suffered with diabetes for many years. On July 1, 1964 he took ill and spent three weeks in the hospital when he also had a stroke. He and mother spent the last year with their daughter Agnes in Stroud, Okla. Here spent most of his time in the wheel chair. On June 29, 1965 complications set in and he spent 44 days and untold suffering in an Enid hospital.

He leaves to mourn his departure, his widow Caroline of the home; three sons, Alfred of Stillwater, Okla., Emil of Portland, Ore., Paul of Coldwater, Kan.; three daughters, Ruth (Mrs. John) Schultz of Meno, Okla., Agnes (Mrs. R. R.) Young of Stroud, Okla. and Susie (Mrs. Lowell) Koehn of Lahoma, Okla.; 12 grandchildren 15 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Mrs. Anna Dirks of Peever, S. D., and Lena Schmidt of Sioux City, Iowa; one brother-in-law, Jacob Wedel of Enid; and one sister-in-law, Mrs. Mary Koehn of Meno. His first wife Katie and one son preceded him in death, as did three brothers and two sisters.

The Mennonite obituary: 14 Sep 1965 p. 575