Joseph L. Schmidt

Joseph Louis Schmidt, loving father and spouse, passed away September 9, 2018 at the Hanover Hospital Long Term Care.  A rosary service was held at 7:00 p.m., Friday, September 14 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Hanover.A funeral service was held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 15 at St. John’s Catholic Church.  Father Joseph Kieffer and Father John Birkel officiated.  The Lectors were Cindy Lawrence and Kyla Kruse.  The altar servers were Zachary Schmidt and Jamie Bruna.  Offertory gifts were presented by Katie Woods, Christy Steinfort, Jenna Tormondson, Erika Jueneman and Campbell Chabot.  Programs were handed out by Carter Chabot and Riplee Schmidt.  Janet Fritschi played the organ while the church choir sang “Faith of Our Fathers”, "Come to Me”, “I Am the Bread of Life”, "A Love Without End, Amen” and “How Great Thou Art”.The pallbearers were Nathan Bruna, Rick Bruna, Dean Bruna, Kent Bruna, Lincoln Stukey, Dalton Stukey, Wyatt Schmidt and Ryan Schmidt.Burial was in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Hanover.Joseph was born October 26, 1941 at Spearville, Kan., son of Marcus and Mary Schmidt.  He grew up in Spearville and graduated from Spearville High in 1959. He also completed technical training programs through AT&T.On August 31, 1963, Joe married Sharon Louise Gales at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dodge City, Kan.Joe worked for AT&T in Dodge City for 18 years, retiring in 1978. He and Sharon then purchased a dog breeding and brokering business in Barnes, Kan., which they later sold. Joe also worked for USD 223 School District and St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Hanover for many years until retiring in 2007.He was a past president of the home and school association at Sacred Heart in Dodge City, served as president of the National Pet Dealers and Breeders Association, was a past president of St. John the Baptist school board in Hanover and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed playing all kinds of sports as a young man. He was a 4-H leader in Dodge City and was the Hanover High School assistant football coach for several years.Joe was preceded in death by his parents: in-laws, Ferdinand and Ruth Gales; siblings, Richard (Alberta) Schmidt, Arnold Schmidt, John Schmidt, Lee Schmidt, Evelyn (Earl) Tompkins, Alice (Bill) Dixon, Sister Delphine Schmidt and Sister Elizabeth Ann Schmidt.Joe is survived by his wife, Sharon, their five children, 20 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren (with more on the way): Jodie (Mark) Bruna of Hanover, KS, their children and grandchildren: Nathan (Samantha) Bruna and daughter Alivia of Hanover; Katie (Ken) Woods of Manhattan; Cindy (Austin) Lawrence and sons Dakota and Sawyer of Alma; Rick (Kelsee) Bruna and daughter Addison of Hanover; Christy (Austin) Steinfort and sons Garth and Clayton of Hanover; Dean Bruna of Hanover; Kent (Colleen) Bruna of Beloit; and Jamie Bruna of Hanover. Donald (Susan) Schmidt of Bixby, OK, and their sons Ryan and Zachary. Rebecca (James) Kruse of Hanover, KS, and their daughters and grandchildren: Jenna (Dakota) Tormondson and their children Knox, Indie, and Tatum of Omaha, NE; Erika (Brandon) Jueneman, and daughter Ella of Hanover; and Kyla Kruse of Manhattan. Deborah (Michael) Stukey of New Strawn, KS, their sons Lincoln (Lynzie) Stukey of Burlington; and Dalton Stukey of New Strawn. Lee (Carrie) Schmidt of Topeka, KS, and their children: Bree Schmidt, Wyatt Schmidt, Carter Chabot, Campbell Chabot, and Riplee Schmidt of Topeka. Joe is also survived by his sister, Marjorie Schmidt, many nieces and nephews, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.The Hanover Mortuary was in charge of arrangements. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joseph L. Schmidt, please visit our flower store.