Walter Schmitt

Walter A. Schmitt, age 94 of Utica, Nebraska (Utica Care Center), formerly Gresham, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 18, 2008 at Bryan LGH East in Lincoln, NE. Walter was born on August 19, 1913 in Gresham to Adam and Anna (Kuhnl) Schmitt.

As a child Walter helped in the blacksmith shop his father opened in 1904 at Gresham and he enjoyed sharing stories of helping to shoe horses when only five or six years old. Walter graduated from Gresham High School in 1930 and went into a partnership with his father, Adam Schmitt and Son. Walter’s entire blacksmith career was spent in the original shop opened by his father. In 2001 the shop was sold and Walter became a permanent resident of the Utica Community care Center.

Walter was an 81 year member of the First Presbyterian Church in Gresham. He has a passion for history. He served for many years as a board member and vice president of the York County Historical Association. He spent countless hours researching and collating materials for the York County Historical Association newsletters and for Gresham’s centennial book. He belonged to the Nebraska State Historical Society and over the year belonged to several blacksmith and welder associations at national, state, and county levels. He was also a member of the Gresham Volunteer Fire Department for many years. Walter was proud of his German/Czech heritage and had a cousin in Germany that he maintained contact with. Walter participated in the historical interviews for the Wessels Living History Farm and his interview can be found on the website.

Walter was never married, but is survived by close friends: Lindley and Wilma Kessler of Gresham; Cindi Heiden of York; the staff and his friends at the Utica Community Care Center; friends of the village of Gresham; and members of the York County Historical Society.

In following Walter’s wishes, he chose to donate his body to the Nebraska Anatomical Board for education and medical research. A memorial service was held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at Metz Chapel in York with Pastor Noel Dekalb officiating. His ashes will be interred at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Gresham, beside his parents, at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the Scmitt Scholarship Fund at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.