Emery R. Schmidt, 93, Catharine, Kansas, died Friday, January 15, 2021, at his home.
He was born February 28, 1927, in Catharine, the son of Adolph J. and Anna (Staab) Schmidt. He attended St. Catherine Grade School where he graduated as an 8th grader. After he completed schooling, he farmed full-time with his father, eventually taking over the family farm in 1974. In 2002, he was a recipient of the Kansas Farm Bureau Century Farm Family Award. On October 10, 1959, he was united in marriage to Shirley Pfeifer at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays. They celebrated 61 years of marriage.
He was a farmer whose crops included wheat and milo, and he raised cattle. In his earlier years, he raised poultry and milked cows, taking the eggs and cream to a grocery store in Hays and trading them for groceries. In addition to farming, Emery enjoyed butchering hogs and making German sausages, watching games shows, and spending time on the computer looking at the markets, the weather, playing games and browsing his wife’s Facebook to stay up on happenings in his families’ lives. He spent time studying the genealogy of families of Catharine, storytelling of growing up in the early days on the farm, completing word searches, and was a Kansas City Royals and Chiefs fan. Most of all, he loved his family and spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was a member of the St. Catherine Catholic Church and was a Third-Degree Knight of the St. Catherine Council.
Survivors include his wife Shirley of Catharine, two sons: Greg (Pam) Schmidt and Mike (Ann) Schmidt, all of Catharine, two daughters: Jackie (Tim) Jones of Hays and Lisa (Allen) Stouffer of Leavenworth, two brothers: Adolph (DeAnn) Schmidt and Gerald (Elaine) Schmidt, all of Hays, a sister: Cora Dortland of Gorham, two brothers-in-law: Maynard Evans of Hays and Verlin Pfeifer of Hill City, five sisters-in-law: Rosie Schmidt of Hays, Mary (Rick) Vogt of Chicago, IL, Sheila (Tim) Thompson of Westwood, Rebecca (David) Tolemy of Bloomingdale, IL, and Sandy Pfeifer of Covington, PA, 12 grandchildren: Eric (Kelli) Schmidt, Ryan (Jennifer) Schmidt, John (Aubrey) Jones, Rachel (Scott) VonFeldt, Niki (Tony) Smith, Casey (Nathan) Wendel, Erin (Ryan) Sims, Kyle Schmidt, Carly Schmidt, Shelby Stouffer, Lucas (Megan) Stouffer, and Michael Schmidt, 18 great grandchildren: Catherine, Evelyn, Sophia, Jace, Elon, Mason, and Colby Schmidt, Cooper and Georgia Jones, Camri, Kaden, and Konnor VonFeldt, Emma and Julie Smith, Clayton and Tyler Wendel, Emerie Stouffer, and Olivia Sims, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers: Celly, Herbert, Alfred, Elmer J. Schmidt, and an infant brother: Elmer Schmidt, three sisters: Cyrilla Evans, Fidelia Rome, and Irene Dinkel, four brothers-in-law: Wilfred Rome, Ray Dinkel, Everett Dortland, and Pat Pfeifer, and four sisters-in-law: Esther and Frances Schmidt and Lillian and Ginger Pfeifer.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Catharine. Burial will follow in St. Catherine Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 8:00 pm on Monday and from 8:30 until 9:30 am on Tuesday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A vigil service will be at 6:30 pm followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary, both on Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to St. Catherine Church or to the St. Catherine Cemetery Fund. Condolences and memories of Emery may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com