Gregory Allen “Greg” Schmidt
Let me tell you about my husband, the love of my life and best friend, Gregory “Greg” Schmidt, who passed away on January 31, 2025 after over nine years of courageously battling Glioblastoma brain cancer. He was a devoted husband, a loving father, grandfather, big brother, uncle, and an extraordinary person.
Greg was born at the old St. Anthony Hospital in Hays, Kansas on July 22, 1960. He was the first born son of Emery and Shirley (Pfeifer) Schmidt. He grew up on the family farm that he loved northeast of Catherine where he was able to live the last year of his life. He attended Catherine Elementary School, Hays Junior High and graduated from Hays High School in 1978. He attended Fort Hays State University.
After graduating from Hays High, he worked for Rohr Wood Products for a year. On June 22, 1979, he started his 45 year career at Cross Mfg., Inc., Hays. He began his employment there working second shift on the production floor. Within a couple of years, he was moved briefly to Quality Assurance, then to Production Control Manager. He was named General Plant Manager in 1994, a position he held until his death. Greg was respected for his hard work, dedication, and expertise.
Greg and I were introduced by mutual friends on March 16, 1980. He proposed to me that very summer on a summer night during wheat harvest while sitting in an old green wheat truck in a wheat field that we now own. We were married May 1, 1981 at St. Catherine Church in Catharine, Kansas. I am so grateful for the forty-three years of marriage that we were able to spend together.
We were blessed with three sons. Eric (wife Kelli), Hays, Ryan (wife Jennifer), Hays and Kyle, Overland Park, KS. "Poppy" adored his grandchildren, Catherine, Evelyn, Sophia, Jace, Mason, Colby and Elon. He loved following them when they participated in sports, music and theater.
While he loved all his nieces and nephews, Shelby Stouffer held a special place in his heart. He enjoyed supporting her in Cross Country and Track through high school and college. We also share a special "adopted" daughter with Terry and Laurie Roth. Hannah (Dreiling) Schmidt is the daughter none of us ever had.
Greg was a member of St. Catherine Church, Catharine. He loved our parish. He served as a past parish council member and president, and was a sacristan for the church. He stepped up and taught a confirmation class when the need arose. He mowed the church and cemetery for over 20 years. Greg helped organize the many parish Mardi Gras and Street Dance fund raisers. He also helped me with liturgical decorating, getting up early on Christmas, Easter and Pentecost to light the numerous candles that were used for these special days.
He was a member of the Catherine Knights of Columbus Council 11687 where he served as Grand Knight and Financial Secretary. He enjoyed stuffing the hundreds of Easter Eggs that he helped hide for the Annual K of C Easter Egg hunt. He was also a Fourth degree member of Bishop Cunningham Assembly 282 Knights of Columbus, Hays. He served on the Advisory Board at Thomas More Prep-Marian. He was very involved with TMP-Marian while and after our boys were students there. He operated the time clocks at TMP-Marian's home football and basketball games for many years, only quitting due to his health. He enjoyed helping his buddies, Rod Fairbank and Terry Roth cooking for TMP tailgates, Sports Booster Club Raffle and Graduation parties for the boarding students. He and Terry built many sets for the TMP Pop Singers Dinner Theaters. We were ACE Auction co-hosts in 2010. We received the TMP-Marian Point of Light award in 2012 and the Jack Schramm Spirit Award in 2020.
Greg was an avid Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs fan. Greg enjoyed planting a large garden every year until his health didn't allow it. He spent many hours in the heat of the summer canning his produce. His salsa was the best. He was a volunteer fire fighter for Company 2 in Catherine for a few years. He had an infectious laugh especially when watching his favorite comedian, Jeff Dunham. For whatever reason, he enjoyed watching Sponge Bob Square Pants. When one of his hospice nurses learned this, she found it on his TV so he could watch something he enjoyed. Every year he had to watch Scrooged at least once during the Christmas season and Groundhog Day on Groundhog Day. We will be watching Groundhog Day in his memory this year.
On our many trips to KUMed the last nine years, the Topeka Zoo became a place we enjoyed making quick stops at on our way to KUMed or on the way home. It got our minds off of worrying what his MRI would find and rested our minds when we didn't get the best news. His favorite animal was Vision aka "Tank" the hippopotamus. We always had to go visit Tank.
Greg will be remembered for his kind heart, his work ethic and his willingness to help others whenever he was needed and will be missed by many.
Greg is survived by me, Pam (Peter) Schmidt, his sons and their families, sisters, Jackie Jones and husband Tim of Hays and Lisa Stouffer and husband Allen of Leavenworth, sister-in-law, Ann Schmidt, Catharine, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Lynette and Rex Keeshan, Genoa, NE, and many other family members and friends who already miss him dearly.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Wane and Maxine Peter, his brother Mike Schmidt and nephew, John Jones.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Catharine with Fr. Earl Befort officiating. Burial will follow in St. Catherine Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Tuesday and from 8:30 am until 9:30 on Wednesday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. The Bishop Cunningham Fourth degree Knights of Columbus will stand honor guard from 5:30 pm until 6:30 pm on Tuesday at the funeral home. A vigil service will be at 6:30 pm followed by a combined St. Catherine 3rd degree Knights of Columbus and Bishop Cunningham 4th degree Knights of Columbus rosary.
Memorials are suggested to St. Catherine Catholic Church, TMP-Marian High School for the Gardening Club and Fine Arts Club, Holy Family Elementary School, or to the Topeka Zoo. Condolences and memories of Greg may be left for his family at www. haysmemorial.com