JUDITH SCHMIDT
1944 - 2017
Obituary
Judith Mae (Kochenower) Schmidt was
born July 29, 1944, in Newton to Harold and Nina Kochenower. She was
the thrid of five children. She died on July 22, 2017, after a series
of illnesses at Via Christi/ St. Francis Hospital.
She attended Lincoln Grade School and
graduated from Newton High School in 1962. As a young girl she worked
for Moore's lGA. She enjoyed going to the drive-in and dragging Main
Street while only using $1 worth of gas. She also loved to fish as
long as someone baited her hook.
On Sept. 19, 1964, she married Ronnie
Schmidt of Lehigh. They were married at the First Methodist Church in
Newton, which resulted in 53 years of marriage. After their marriage
they resided in Denver for one year. They moved back to Kansas after
Ronnie's service was complete. In 1966, they bought their first farm.
Ronnie remembers Judy crying all the way home from the bank, worried
they would never pay off their debt. During this time they were
blessed with two children and enjoyed many years of farm life
together. Kimberly was born May 19, 1967, and Craig was born on Sept.
10, 1969.
During their years of farm life, Judy
would help drive the tractor during harvest. After a long day on the
farm, she still found the energy to cook a three-course supper. She
could never bear to leave anyone hungry. Many of her grandchildren's
favorite memories include everyone gathered around the kitchen table.
If only the kitchen table could talk.
After the children were school age, she
started working at Bethesda Home in Goessel as a cook. She worked her
way up to Food Service Supervisor after taking a correspondence
course from The University of Florida. She worked for Bethesda for
almost 20 years. Later, she worked at Dale's Supermarket in Hillsboro
for 10 years. She loved being around people.
Judy enjoyed going to her children's
basketball games, where Kim and Craig always said they could hear mom
cheering from the stands. She kept very busy with her grandchildren's
sporting events and school activities. She tried not to miss many
activities except for in her later years when she became ill, making
it difficult to attend. Her grandchildren meant the world to her!
Judy is survived by her husband, Ronnie
of the home; daughter: Kim and Jerry Lewis and their children, Tyler
and Sara Schmidt and Trey Schmidt; son: Craig and Jody Schmidt and
their children, Jayce, Jerah, Javin and Jayley Schmidt; sister, Joyce
Campbell of Pedro, Ohio; and brother, Danny and Vicki Kochenower of
Newton. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her
parents; sister, Sheila Ratzlaff; and brother, Harold Kochenower Jr.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m.
Thursday (July 27, 2017) at Tabor Mennonite Church in rural Newton,
with Pastors Phil Schmidt and Rosie Jantz presiding. Visitation will
be 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday (July 26, 2017) at Petersen Funeral Home,
with the family receiving friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the funeral
home. Burial will be in Tabor Mennonite Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Salem Home
in Hillsboro c/o Petersen Funeral Home.
