Schmidt, Joel I. (1896-1952)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1952 Oct 30 p. 9

Birth date: 1896 Mar 4

text of obituary:

JOEL I. SCHMIDT

My dear husband, Joel I. Schmidt, son of Isaak J. and Anna (Unruh) Schmidt, was born or March 4, 1896, at Loretta, South Dakota, and passed away September 24, 1952, (7:00 a.m.) at the hospital in Waldheim, Sask. He attained the age of 56 years, six months and 20 days.

In 1899 his parents moved to Saskatchewan, where they settled on a farm 16 miles west of Rosthern. Four years later his mother passed away. After another four years a stepmother came into the home to care for the orphans. Here on the farm in the Springfield school district he received his education and later in the German-English academy at Rosthern. He taught one term at Wilcox, and took one term summer course at the University of Saskatchewan.

My husband realized his lost condition and accepted the Lord as his personal Saviour, being baptized by Elder H. A. Gossen on July 5, 1914, and received into the Salem church.

When his parents moved to Kansas, U. S. A., he took charge of the farm until the fall of 1927. In 1925 he went into the livestock business and later into the implement business, carrying on this profession to the last.

On March 25, 1925, we were united in marriage at Carnduff, Sask., and have had the privilege of enjoying this union for 27 and one-half years, less one day. The Lord entrusted to us five children: Vernon, Elmer, Velma, Eldon and Edward. Eldon passed away at birth on May 30, 1933. We rejoiced much to share the blessings of our silver aniversary [sic] which was due March 25, 1950, but was celebrated July 5, 1950, due to circumstances. We had the joy of having Rev. Benjamin Ewert present again for that occasion.

My husband enjoyed fairly good health with the exception of the last three years when it began to fail due to a heart condition. During March 1951 he was hospitalized for 16 days, but he regained strength again to carry on the responsiblities [sic] of his business until August 11, 1952. On this day he became seriously ill. He spent 11 days in the Waldheim hospital when again he could return home to be with us for five days. On August 29 he had to enter the hospital again, where he suffered severely. There he passed away.

Even though he suffered extremely, his faith in the Lord was unsaken [sic]. He trusted in his Savior to the very end, assuring us repeatedly that he was ready to go. The day previous to his death the whole family was called to his bedside. There we had our last prayer meeting together with him as a family, resigning our will to the Lord. "O Throne of Grace,” "My Jesus, As Thou Wilt,” "The Love of God,” and "What a Friend We Have in Jesus” were hymns he loved during his illness. The 23rd Psalm was a great comfort to him in his last hours when he could no longer read his Bible.

We rejoiced to know that he often witnessed for his Redeemer at home, in business, as well as in the hospital. He has now passed on to his eternal reward.

There remain to mourn his early departure his wife and children, two sisters, one brother, three aunts, four uncles, nine sisters-in law, six brothers-in-law, a host of other relatives and many friends.

We are thankful to the Lord that his sister, Mrs. Henry R. Friesen, Meade, Ks. and her son and daughter-in-law, his in-laws, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Goertz, Carnduff, Sask., Mrs. C. S. Kehler, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Mrs. H. S. Ewert, Rostern, Sask., were able to come from a distance to share in our bereavement.

Funeral services were held on Sept. 28 at 2:00 p.m. at the Salem K.M.B. church six miles from Waldheim, Sask. — Mrs. Helena (Goertz) Schmidt and Family.