Lester Raphael Schmidt, 74, of Olpe, Kansas, died on Thursday, January 31, 2013, at Emporia Presbyterian Manor, after a long battle with heart disease.
He was born December 27, 1938, west of Hartford, Kansas, one of ten children of Raphael Anthony “Ray” and Leona Eleanor (Haag) Schmidt.
Lester grew up on the family farm and attended Twin Mound Rural School and St. Joseph's Catholic Grade School. He was in the first class to attend freshman through senior years at Olpe High School, where he graduated in 1957. After high school he attended Kansas State Teacher’s College in Emporia.
On June 11, 1966, he and Beth Lee Mattingly were married at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Olpe. He and Beth built their current home in 1972 where they raised their three children.
Lester managed Schmidt Feed Service before spending most of his life as a farmer and cattleman. He was the recipient of the Kansas Bankers Association Soil Conservation Award in 1990, served on the St. Joseph Church parish council, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
He leaves behind his wife of 46 years, Beth; his children, Camille Schmidt, Lenexa, Kansas, Kyle Schmidt and wife Jennifer, Wichita, Kansas, and Andrea Schmidt, Kansas City, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Samuel, Daryn, Riley, Anna, Cole, Brett and Bryson; two brothers, Maurice Schmidt, Emporia, and Gregory Schmidt, Wichita; two sisters, Diana Hellen (Dan), Topeka, Kansas, and Lois Theilmann (Jim) Aurora, Colorado; and many nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Richard, Leon, Warren, and Virgil Schmidt; and a sister, Alvina Meyer.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 5, 2013, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Olpe, Kansas. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Olpe. Mass will be celebrated by Father John Cordes of the church.
A Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Monday, February 4, 2013 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with a visitation following.
Memorial contributions to the Olpe Knights of Columbus Remodeling Fund may be sent in care of the funeral home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lester R. Schmidt, please visit our flower store.
He was born December 27, 1938, west of Hartford, Kansas, one of ten children of Raphael Anthony “Ray” and Leona Eleanor (Haag) Schmidt.
Lester grew up on the family farm and attended Twin Mound Rural School and St. Joseph's Catholic Grade School. He was in the first class to attend freshman through senior years at Olpe High School, where he graduated in 1957. After high school he attended Kansas State Teacher’s College in Emporia.
On June 11, 1966, he and Beth Lee Mattingly were married at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Olpe. He and Beth built their current home in 1972 where they raised their three children.
Lester managed Schmidt Feed Service before spending most of his life as a farmer and cattleman. He was the recipient of the Kansas Bankers Association Soil Conservation Award in 1990, served on the St. Joseph Church parish council, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
He leaves behind his wife of 46 years, Beth; his children, Camille Schmidt, Lenexa, Kansas, Kyle Schmidt and wife Jennifer, Wichita, Kansas, and Andrea Schmidt, Kansas City, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Samuel, Daryn, Riley, Anna, Cole, Brett and Bryson; two brothers, Maurice Schmidt, Emporia, and Gregory Schmidt, Wichita; two sisters, Diana Hellen (Dan), Topeka, Kansas, and Lois Theilmann (Jim) Aurora, Colorado; and many nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Richard, Leon, Warren, and Virgil Schmidt; and a sister, Alvina Meyer.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 5, 2013, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Olpe, Kansas. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Olpe. Mass will be celebrated by Father John Cordes of the church.
A Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Monday, February 4, 2013 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with a visitation following.
Memorial contributions to the Olpe Knights of Columbus Remodeling Fund may be sent in care of the funeral home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lester R. Schmidt, please visit our flower store.
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