Robert K. "Bob" Schmidt
1938 - 2021
Robert K. (Bob) Schmidt, age 82, passed
away on Friday, January 15, 2021, at Newton Medical Center, from
complications of Covid-19. Bob was born May 21, 1938, in Neodesha,
Kansas, to Marvin Schmidt and Elma Frey Schmidt. When he was only
four years old, a tornado struck the family farm and took the life of
his father Marvin. Bob, his mother, and younger brother Duane moved
in with extended family while Elma earned her teaching certificate.
He started kindergarten at age four in a one room schoolhouse taught
by his mother.
When Bob was a teenager, his mother
married Willard H. Regier and he gained two additional siblings,
Eldon and Lois. He graduated from Whitewater High School in 1955, but
was most proud of his self-declared degree from "The School of
Hard Knocks."
Bob married his high school sweetheart,
Mary Lou Androes, on June 29, 1956. They shared the next 64 and a
half years of joys and challenges together, and relied heavily on
each other and their faith following the tragic loss of their oldest
daughter, Rhonda, in 1994. Bob and Mary Lou enjoyed many boating
vacations at Table Rock Lake in Missouri with Mary Lou's extended
family, several trips to Hawaii, visiting Niagara Falls, and
celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with a trip to Alaska.
They rarely missed a ballgame or event that involved their children,
grandchildren, or great grandchildren, and Bob enjoyed coaching when
given the opportunity.
Bob knew no stranger, which served him
well in his multiple sales-related jobs. Many in the community
remember him as their favorite milkman in the 1960s, and his family
and friends always joked that he could sell ice in Antarctica. The
last 28 years leading up to retirement, he owned and operated RK's
Auto Supply. Although Mary Lou worried he would be bored upon
retirement, he actually became busier than before, perfecting his
golf game, joining a weekly bowling league, playing men's slow-pitch
softball with the church team, attending auctions, fishing, and
working on projects at his shop. Bob held season tickets for over 50
years to the home games of his beloved WSU Shockers Men's Basketball
team, and was also an avid Newton Railers and Kansas City Chiefs fan.
An active member of First Mennonite
Church in Newton, KS, Bob was part of numerous committees,
volunteered with the Junior High Youth Group, chaired the FMC Caring
Fund Committee for the last 10 years, faithfully ushered folks to
their seats, always made sure the grass was freshly cut or snow was
cleared, and routinely brewed fresh pots of coffee on Sunday
mornings. He willingly and selflessly gave of his time and resources
to several community programs, including Salvation Army and New Hope
Homeless Shelter. He loved his family members with fierceness and
generosity, and would drop everything to support his children and
grandchildren, regardless of the situation. He was stubborn, loud,
humorous, well-versed in sarcasm, and couldn't get enough BBQ. Bob
truly enjoyed life, not taking anything for granted and choosing to
appreciate what he had been given.
Bob will be forever loved and missed by
his beloved wife, Mary Lou, of Newton; daughters Roxane Pohl, Newton,
Rochelle Schmidt, Emporia, Renee (Kevin) Hamm, Newton; son-in-law Von
Krehbiel, Kingman; grandchildren Jared (Ciara) Pohl, Kyle Pohl, Kate
(Chance) Colton, Kirsten Krehbiel, Kendra Krehbiel, Ashlynn (Trevor)
Duerksen, Logan (Aarika) Hamm, and Madelynn Hamm; and great
grandchildren Zane, Braden, Kenzlie, Ellie, Jax, Kinley, Braden,
Caysen, Kannen, Kylen, and Blakely. Bob was welcomed into heaven by
his parents, daughter Rhonda Lou (Schmidt) Krehbiel, great
granddaughter Knoxley Lou Colton, brothers Duane Schmidt and Eldon
Regier, and sister Lois Wiens.
Public visitation and guestbook signing
will be held at Petersen's Funeral Home (Newton) on Thursday and
Friday, January 21 and 22, from 12-4 pm. A private graveside service
for immediate family will be held on Saturday, January 23. In lieu of
flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Mennonite Church
(Newton, KS) Caring Fund or New Hope Homeless Shelter (Newton, KS).
His family would like to thank the Newton Medical Center ICU medical
staff for the excellent and loving care shown to Bob during his
illness. The outpouring of love, support, and prayers from community
members and friends has also been greatly appreciated.
