Schmidt, Paul David (1938-1947)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1947 Sep 11 p. 5

Birth date: 1938

text of obituary:

. . .

— A tragic accident at the rural home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Schmidt seven miles south of Newton last Sunday evening claimed the lives of three of the Schmidt’s eight children. Two others are in the Axtell Christian hospital with critical injuries, and the other three, less seriously injured, were also hospitalized. The children were playing with a dud “bazooka” shell at the rear of the home and it exploded when dropped on some concrete. Instantly killed was Calvin, 11, Paul David, 9, and Carolyn, 7, were dead upon arrival at the hospital. The parents were not at hospital. The parents were not at home at the time of the explosion, and did not learn of it until later in the evening. The shell was one of four which the father had picked up at Ft. Riley, Kansas, where he was employed on a hay baling project.