Florence M. Schadt, aged 98, died July 17, 2013 at her home in Emporia, surrounded by love. Florence Maurine Kirby was born May 17, 1915 in Miltonvale, Kansas to Grace Dale Gorrell Kirby and Osborne Eddy Kirby. Her younger siblings were Vernon, Elinor, and Donald. She attended elementary school primarily in Miltonvale.
At the age of thirteen, Florence was stricken with Bright’s Disease, a severe kidney malfunction thought to be untreatable and potentially fatal. Following weeks of confinement and rest as well as subsequent years of strict diet, Florence returned to school in time to finish the eighth grade. Her doctor presciently predicted that she would live to be a healthy old woman.
Florence graduated in 1933 from Field Kindly Memorial High School and in 1936 from Coffeyville Junior College with a certificate to teach elementary school. Her first teaching experience was at a one-room country schoolhouse. Florence went to Baker University in 1939 to complete her college education, while also working part-time as Secretary and Assistant Pastor at the Baldwin Methodist Church. While working as the camp secretary at Camp Wood during the summer of 1940, Florence met Marvin Schadt, a fellow educator. They were married June 3, 1941, the day after she graduated from Baker University.
Marvin and Florence had four children: Elinor Kathryne Schadt, born August 18, 1943 in Eldorado; Gordon Frederick Schadt, born September 18, 1945 in Marysville; Margaret Naomi Schadt, born April 17, 1948; and Barbara Grace Schadt, born March 6, 1950, both in Great Bend.
In August of 1959, the Schadt family moved to Emporia, Kansas where Marvin became a professor of School Administration at Emporia State University and where Florence renewed her teaching certificate and taught at Toledo Township High School in Saffordville. In 1965 Florence received her Master’s degree from ESU and became an Elementary Education professor at the College of Emporia (C of E).
Florence Schadt was a student of the Bible. She taught the Bethel Bible Series and all four of the Disciple courses at First United Methodist Church in Emporia. Florence also taught several Sunday school classes and was active in the United Methodist Women’s group. She sang in the choir until she was 92 and was an active leader in the church for over 50 years. Florence was also a member of the Thesaurus Study Club of Emporia and was actively involved with the Emporia Senior Center.
Florence was known for her strong Christian faith and open acceptance of others. Her many long, deep friendships were remarkable, as was her ability to find new, younger friends as she lost her older friends. She was the kind of teacher that students came back to visit because they felt her care and concern. A lifelong learner and voracious reader, she was greatly interested in the world around her and was an excellent source of objective information about current events.
Florence was preceded in death on June 25, 2004 by her husband of 63 years, Marvin Schadt. She was also preceded by brothers, Donald and Vernon Kirby; sister, Elinor Lewallen; and sister-in-law, Naomi Lietzke. She is survived by daughters, Elinor Cowell, Margaret Brokaw, and Grace Jones; son, Gordon Schadt; ten grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., with a visitation beginning at 12:00 p.m., Saturday July 20, 2013 at First United Methodist Church in Emporia. The burial will take place at 4:00 p.m. at Coal Creek Cemetery in Valley Falls, Kansas.
Memorial contributions to the First United Methodist Church or Hand in Hand Hospice may be sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Florence M. Schadt, please visit our flower store.
At the age of thirteen, Florence was stricken with Bright’s Disease, a severe kidney malfunction thought to be untreatable and potentially fatal. Following weeks of confinement and rest as well as subsequent years of strict diet, Florence returned to school in time to finish the eighth grade. Her doctor presciently predicted that she would live to be a healthy old woman.
Florence graduated in 1933 from Field Kindly Memorial High School and in 1936 from Coffeyville Junior College with a certificate to teach elementary school. Her first teaching experience was at a one-room country schoolhouse. Florence went to Baker University in 1939 to complete her college education, while also working part-time as Secretary and Assistant Pastor at the Baldwin Methodist Church. While working as the camp secretary at Camp Wood during the summer of 1940, Florence met Marvin Schadt, a fellow educator. They were married June 3, 1941, the day after she graduated from Baker University.
Marvin and Florence had four children: Elinor Kathryne Schadt, born August 18, 1943 in Eldorado; Gordon Frederick Schadt, born September 18, 1945 in Marysville; Margaret Naomi Schadt, born April 17, 1948; and Barbara Grace Schadt, born March 6, 1950, both in Great Bend.
In August of 1959, the Schadt family moved to Emporia, Kansas where Marvin became a professor of School Administration at Emporia State University and where Florence renewed her teaching certificate and taught at Toledo Township High School in Saffordville. In 1965 Florence received her Master’s degree from ESU and became an Elementary Education professor at the College of Emporia (C of E).
Florence Schadt was a student of the Bible. She taught the Bethel Bible Series and all four of the Disciple courses at First United Methodist Church in Emporia. Florence also taught several Sunday school classes and was active in the United Methodist Women’s group. She sang in the choir until she was 92 and was an active leader in the church for over 50 years. Florence was also a member of the Thesaurus Study Club of Emporia and was actively involved with the Emporia Senior Center.
Florence was known for her strong Christian faith and open acceptance of others. Her many long, deep friendships were remarkable, as was her ability to find new, younger friends as she lost her older friends. She was the kind of teacher that students came back to visit because they felt her care and concern. A lifelong learner and voracious reader, she was greatly interested in the world around her and was an excellent source of objective information about current events.
Florence was preceded in death on June 25, 2004 by her husband of 63 years, Marvin Schadt. She was also preceded by brothers, Donald and Vernon Kirby; sister, Elinor Lewallen; and sister-in-law, Naomi Lietzke. She is survived by daughters, Elinor Cowell, Margaret Brokaw, and Grace Jones; son, Gordon Schadt; ten grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., with a visitation beginning at 12:00 p.m., Saturday July 20, 2013 at First United Methodist Church in Emporia. The burial will take place at 4:00 p.m. at Coal Creek Cemetery in Valley Falls, Kansas.
Memorial contributions to the First United Methodist Church or Hand in Hand Hospice may be sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Florence M. Schadt, please visit our flower store.
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