Melvin Daniel “Mel” Schmidt, 84, Beloit, died Saturday, August 5, 2026 at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.
He was born July 30, 1942 in Hays, the son of Elmer C. and Mary (Hammerschmidt) Schmidt. Mel attended Hopewell and Buckeye Grade Schools, graduated from St. Joseph’s Military Academy in 1960, and from 1961-1965, he served in the U.S. Army, with three of those years in Germany.
Mel was an excellent and avid mechanic who could build just about anything mobile from scratch. He constructed grain bins and built a roadster and car out of a horse tank. For many years, he was an over the road truck driver, owned a bar in Tipton for several years, and he also was a custom cutter. Mel was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Beloit, volunteered at the VFW, and enjoyed watching movies from the library.
Survivors include his brothers Terry Schmidt and wife Delores of Oklahoma, Elmer Schmidt of Hays, and Tom Schmidt and wife Sandi of Hays, three sisters, Glenda Raye of Minnesota, Chloe Peters and husband Gary of Wichita, and Christine Purdy of Junction City, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and three sisters Phyllis Pentecost, Barbara Hignite, and Dorothy Boulware.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays, with Fr. Fred Gatschet officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 on Tuesday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Wednesday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A vigil service and Rosary will be at 6:30 pm on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Port Library or to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Condolence and memories of Mel may be shared with his family at www.haysmemorial.com