Schmidt, Maxlyn Smith (1922-2002)

Newton Kansan obituary: 2002 July 29 p. 2

Birth date: 1922 May 26

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2002 Aug 5 p. 11

text of obituary:

MAXLYN SCHMIDT

Maxlyn Schmidt died July 25, 2002, in Wichita, Kan., due to complications of dermatomyositis. She was born May 26, 1922, in Great Bend to Max and Effie (Unruh) Smith.

She married Earl Alvin Schmidt on Oct. 12, 1946, at Bergthal Mennonite Church in Pawnee Rock.

She had a passion for education and a desire to teach that started in early childhood. Her schooling began in a country grade school and continued through her graduation from Bethel College in North Newton. Her teaching career spanned 25 years, during which she taught English and business classes in Pawnee Rock and Larned. In the Larned community she served on the Jordaan Scholarship Committee from its inception. She counted it a privilege to participate in the process of choosing outstanding students to receive scholarships

She had a deep faith in Jesus and a passion for the work of the church. Baptized at an early age, she was a lifelong member of Bergthal Mennonite Church. She directed the junior choir, wrote a Christmas play, taught Sunday school, was a trustee treasurer and enthusiastically committed herself to projects of the Mennonite Central Committee, including sewing and filling hundreds of health and school kits.

Despite the many obligations of farming, she found time for other interests. She researched and helped document the family history. She loved her flower garden, and her bouquets graced many church and community events. She was a dedicated social activist, serving on the Peace and Social Concerns Committee of Western District Conference for many years. As a supporter of Amnesty International and other organizations, she regularly wrote letters of concern to politicians, foreign governments and prominent leaders.

Survivors include her husband, Earl, of Pawnee Rock; a daughter, Ann Pasnick and her husband, Ray, of Elmhurst, Ill.; a son, Robert and his wife, Jean, of Little Rock, Ark., a sister, Ruth Graber of Moundridge; and five grandchildren.

Services were held at Bergthal Mennonite Church. Burial was in Mennonite Memorial Cemetery.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2003 Jun 16 p. 8

text of obituary:

MAXLYN SCHMIDT

Addition: The obituary for Maxlyn Schmidt, which ran in the Aug. 5, 2002, issue of Mennonite Weekly Review, should have included, as survivors, a stepbrother, Kenneth Kaufman, and his wife, Joyce, of Palo Alto, Calif.