Luther Schmidt

Luther D. Schmidt, 81, of 407 Hillside Dr. died Friday, January 3, 2003 at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital.

Services will be Wednesday, January 8, 2003; 11:00 A.M. at Zion Lutheran Church with Pastor Dan Heuer officiating. Burial with military rites will be in Parkview Cemetery, both in Hastings, Nebraska.

Luther D. Schmidt was born August 22, 1921 in Hamilton, Texas to John T. & Elsie (Herderhorst) Schmidt. He graduated from St. John's Academy in Winfield, Kansas in 1939. He attended Concordia Seminary, St Louis, Missouri from 1942-1943. He served in the United States Army Air Force during WWII from August 18, 1943 until March 2, 1946. On August 22, 1947, he was married to Ilon Josephson at First Lutheran Church, Omaha, Nebraska by Pastor Norman Temme and Pastor John T. Schmidt. He graduated from Concordia Teachers College, Seward, Nebraska in 1948. He was principal at St. Paul Lutheran School, Paducah, Kentucky from 1948-1950. He then pursued his masters degree from the University of Nebraska from 1950-1952. He then became principal at Trinity Lutheran School, Norborne, Missouri from 1952-1957 and from 1957-1966 was a teacher at Zion Lutheran School, St. Louis, Missouri. He was chairman of the St. Louis Teachers' Conference in 1964. In 1966, he moved to Hastings, Nebraska to become principal of Zion Luther School, Hastings, Nebraska until 1970. In 1971, he initiated and directed all community services for mentally handicapped citizens in a four county area in South Central Nebraska. He was named 'Citizen of the Year' by the Nebraska State Association for Retarded Citizens in 1980. He was a member of Association for Retarded Citizens. He was also an active member of Zion Lutheran Church. After retiring, he enjoyed gardening.

Luther D. Schmidt was preceded in death by his parents and 2 sisters, Mildred Morris and Elsie Fry.

Survivors include,
Wife: Ilon Schimdt - Hastings, NE
Daughters: Susan Klein - Riverside, CA
Barbara Specksgoor - Jupiter, FL
Judy Kennedy- Topeka, KS
Lisa Schmidt - Hastings, NE
Sons: David Schmidt - Florence, SC
Ronald Schmidt - Ramona, CA
Brothers: Milton Schmidt - St. Joseph, MI
Rev. John Schmidt - New London, WI
Sisters: Ruth Lovett - Hartford, CT
Dorothy Wolters - Atwood, KS
Joan Engle - Garland, TX
Winifred Lewis - Sutton, NE
5 Grandchildren

Numerous Nieces & Nephews.

Memorial may be given to Zion Lutheran Church or Hastings Special Olympics

VISITATION:
Mon. 1-6-03; 5pm-9pm
Tue. 1-7-03; 9am-9pm with family present from 6:30-8:30pm
Wed. 1-8-03; 1 hr. prior to service at the church