Archie Alan Schmidt
Peabody - October 3, 1948 - January 17, 2021
Archie Alan Schmidt of rural Peabody was born October 3,
1948, to Art A and Ruth Unrau Schmidt and raised with his two sisters on a rural
Walton, KS dairy farm. He attended school in Walton, Goessel, and Bethel
College studying industrial arts and participating in the urban sociology
course held in Wichita. He also played soccer with the Bethel College
International Soccer Club.
Archie spent time in construction building custom homes,
helping a friend with concrete work, dairy farming and dry land farming with
his parents, and custom haying. Archie volunteered his construction and
woodworking skills numerous times with Mennonite Disaster Service, Camp
Mennoscah, Tabor Mennonite Church and as a Kauffman Museum Kansas Day woodsman.
Archie built a home for his family and much of the furniture in it. He enjoyed
crafting items for the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale from wood he harvested and
milled into lumber. He was a regular blood donor for the American Red Cross
reaching 97 pints. He served lengthy terms on the boards of the Harvey County
Milk Haulers and the Doyle Creek Watershed.
Archie enjoyed riding his motorcycle and bicycle, reading,
crocheting afghans, gardening, a variety of sports, and road trips.
One of the highlights of Archie's life was the 2 ΒΌ years he
served with Mennonite Central Committee in Bolivia. He helped with the school
garden, managed the chicken egg incubator, built desks for the school and a
large medicine cabinet for the medical clinic. He learned to speak Spanish and
was introduced to the game of soccer. The adventure continued when Archie and a
fellow volunteer purchased motorcycles in Panama City and headed home through
Central America, Mexico, and the States.
Archie was a lifelong member of Tabor Mennonite Church where
he enjoyed following the scripture reading in his Spanish Bible during morning
worship. He served as a youth sponsor, trustee, peace committee member and was
currently serving as one of the Tabor Church liaisons for the MCC Sale.
Archie adapted to his diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease, but
it was an aggressive brain tumor that ended his life on January 17, 2021. He
was a loving husband and dad who delighted in his children and loved to see
their interests grow into their occupations. He enjoyed kicking the soccer ball
back and forth with his granddaughter. He was a kind and gentle soul. We miss
his presence.
Surviving family: wife of 47 years Kristin Matthies Schmidt,
daughters Jody Schmidt and Katy Schmidt, son Luke Schmidt, daughter-in-law
Sarah Shorthill Schmidt, granddaughter Eva Schmidt, sister Ada Schmidt-Tieszen,
brother-in-law Wes Schmidt-Tieszen, brother-in-law Verlin Bartel, extended
family of in-laws, nieces, nephews, and great nieces and great nephews. Archie
was preceded in death by son Alan Schmidt, parents Art and Ruth Schmidt, sister
Elaine Schmidt Bartel, and brother George Schmidt.
A celebration of life service will be held August 14, 2021,
at Tabor Mennonite Church at 2:00 pm. Masks are required, and social distancing
will be observed.
Donations in memory of Archie may be made to Mennonite
Central Committee in care of Jost Funeral Home, PO Box 266, Hillsboro, KS
67063.
