Schmidt, W. O. (1905-1972)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1972 Nov 30 p. 2

Birth date: 1905

text of obituary:

Memorial Service Held At Goessel for Former School Administrator

Goessel, Kan. — A memorial service for W. O. Schmidt, 67, long-time school administrator here who died Nov. 23 in a Wichita hospital after a long illness, was held Monday afternoon in the Goessel high school auditorium. The service was largely attended.

Classes at both the high school and the Goessel Grade School were dismissed Monday afternoon and stores and businesses were closed in tribute to Mr. Schmidt. A brief service at the Miller Funeral Home at 1 p.m. and burial in Greenwood Cemetery, Newton, preceded the public memorial service. Rev. Henry Goossen, pastor of the Goessel Mennonite Church, officiated. Special music was provided by Dr. A. K. Ratzlaff, Melvin Beagley, and Evelyn Voth. Mrs. Herbert W. Reimer was organist.

A native of the Whitewater community, Mr. Schmidt was principal and superintendent of schools here for 30 years before his retirement in 1970. He was in educational work for 41 years, coming here after eight years of teaching at Udall, Kan. He attended Bethel College, and received both the B.A. and M.A. degrees from Pittsburg State College. He was an active member of the Goessel Mennonite Church, a charter member of the Goessel Lions Club, a life member of the NEA, and active in educational circles.

Survivors include his wife, the former Esther Dick; three daughters, Mrs. Leonard Loganbill of Moundridge, Mrs. Bill Collins of Westerly, R.E., and Mrs. Richard Nickel of Hillsboro; nine grandchildren; two brothers, Reinhold of Whitewater and Herber [sic Herbert] A. of Newton; six sisters, Mrs. Adelia Goertz of Hillsboro, Mrs. Olga Jantz of North Newton, Johanna Schmidt and Mrs. Lea Good, both of Wichita, Mrs. Roy Hiebert and Mrs. Walter R. Unrau, both of Newton.