December 13, 1932 ~ September 21, 2017
Jerald was always proud that he was born on a farm on the Chisholm Trail, during a blizzard, on December 13, 1932. He passed away at age eighty-four. He attended the Greenman Country School for several years before coming into town school and graduated from CHS class of 1950.
Farming was his passion and worked hard all his life trying to improve his farming methods and his cattle herd. When he was a young man and the farm work was finished in the fall, he would head to Wichita or Oklahoma City to work thru the winter months and head back to Caldwell in the spring. While in Oklahoma City, he met his bride, Joellen, who was teaching in the Oklahoma City Catholic School system. They married on July 20, 1963, in Yonkers, New York, then headed back to Caldwell, Kansas.
Jerald was active in NFO – National Farmers Organization, with farmers all over the country, who worked together to improve prices for the farm crops.
He was a lifetime member of St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church and served on numerous committees throughout his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rita and Irvin Schmidt, and his brother, Ralph Schmidt.
He is survived by his wife Joellen and six sons and one daughter: Martin (Jill), Kevin (Dani), Tim (Elena), Dick (Shannon), Brian (Jamie), Kelly (Lamont), and Dennis (Sara). He was a loving grandfather to fifteen grandchildren plus one coming in the near future. To this group we can add over 50 foster children he cared for and about twenty-five exchange students from various countries around the world. He is also survived by his sister Rita Scribner of Wichita, brother, Delbert of Kansas City and brother Philip of Caldwell.
The Rosary will be said Sunday evening, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Martin’s and the funeral Mass will be Monday morning at 11:00 a.m. at St. Martin’s Church.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the Catholic Relief Services for the hurricane victims of Texas and Florida or to the CHS Alumni Scholarship Fund and left in care of the mortuary.
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Condolences
Rest In Peace
Michael "Dino" ... - 09/22/2017
I can remember as a child, hearing the sound of Uncle Jerald's pickup coming down the road to the farm each morning, and my brothers and I scrambling to make it out the door in time to greet him before he got started with his work. I'll always remember his big smile, laugh, and jovial personality. Rest in peace Uncle Jerald!
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We sometimes forget or
Dan Goodman - 09/22/2017
We sometimes forget or compartmentalize where we learn how to do things. A good number of Caldwell's children learned a good deal from Jerald. How to fix a bike, how to respectfully ride that bike in a neighborhood, how to drive a farm truck and even how interest rates work in a savings account. Jerald contributed a great deal to Caldwell and society in general, he raised a large family, all his children having experienced success as adults, he was a worker, a builder and an example to others around him to achieve something in life...Jerald certainly did all of that. The world needs more Jerald Schmidt's and fortunately his legacy will be that with his sons and daughter there remains more Jerald Schmidt's in the world. Hopeful in death Jerald finds peace. My thoughts go out to the Joellen and the Schmidt family.
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Prayers for all
Dannette (Johns... - 09/26/2017
So sorry for your loss.
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Joellen and family
Dave and Peggy Ginn - 09/27/2017
You are in our thoughts and prayers. You have such a beautiful family and we know he will be missed. May God surround you with comfort and peace.
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Dear Joellen and Family
Alice and Dale ... - 09/29/2017
Jerald was a great credit to his family, St Martins, Caldwell community and farming.
I remember the time when he ask me to go with him to Oklahoma city so that he could see you. He was depending on me to keep him awake on the long drive to OKC. Did he ever make a comment about me not being much of a talker. Ha!
May God bless you and your family with many good memories.
Cousin, Dale T Metzinger and Alice
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To the Schmidt Family
Steve Adams - 10/29/2017
Sorry to hear of Jerald's passing. Lots of good memories of working around him and all the boys and just talking with him. He will be missed, but we all of lots of memories we can look back on. Thoughts and prayers to all of you.
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