Gordon Schmidt
Gordon LeAnder Schmidt was born April 7, 1929, in Chicago, Ill., to Samuel J. and Marie Tieszen Schmidt. He died on April 8, 2015 in Henderson at the age of 86. He graduated from Freeman Academy in 1947 and Freeman Jr. College in 1949.
He was married to Diena Thieszen on Nov. 25, 1949, at Bethesda Mennonite Church. To this union were born three children, Philip Arden, Ivan Lee and Jean Carol. In the 1950s and 60s he developed Central Irrigation, Inc., a fertilizer and irrigation well drilling business and York Manufacturing Co., a grain bin and grain system handling business.
Following the sale of these businesses Gordon traveled extensively, as a volunteer, while developing foreign trade for the grain storage industry. Travels included Central and South America, including Paraguay, Bolivia, and Brazil, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakstan, Mongolia and Ecuador.
Gordon served on many boards and organizations. They include Henderson Community School, American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, and Foundation for the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia of which he served as President. He served many years on the Mennonite Mutual Aid Board, Bethel College Board and Executive Committee, and Henderson Park Committee. In later years Gordon enjoyed reading and travel. He did extensive study on his Russian Mennonite Heritage.
Gordon was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel J. and Marie Tieszen Schmidt and his sister-in-law, Jean Thieszen. Surviving are his wife of 65 years, Diena Schmidt; children Philip and wife Roberta (Reimer) Schmidt of Henderson, Ivan Schmidt and wife Phyllis Cron of Steamboat Springs, Colo., Jean and husband Terry Lancaster of Shawnee, Okla.; four grandchildren, Grant and wife Jami Schmidt of Henderson, Halie and husband Aaron Smith of Wichita, Kan., Katie and husband Bryan Kelly, Norman, Okla. and Trevor and wife Tiffany Schmidt of Seward; six great-grandchildren, Austin and Taylor Schmidt of Henderson, Asher and Amrie Smith of Wichita, Kan., Cameran Kelly of Shawnee, Okla. and Ethan Schmidt of Seward; brothers, Orville and wife Sandra Schmidt of Wakarusa, Ind., Allen and wife Mary Schmidt of Marion, S.D. and sister, Fyrne and husband Bob Schlenker of Freeman, S.D.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2015 at Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson. Rev. Jim Voth will officiate. Burial will be at 1:15 p.m. prior to the service at Bethesda Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2-9 p.m. Saturday and from 1- 9 p.m. Sunday at Metz Mortuary in Henderson. The family will be present to greet friends Sunday from 6:30- 8:30 p.m. The family requests that memorials be designated to the Bethesda Historical Committee or the Bethesda Radio Fund.
Condolences may be emailed to Metz Mortuary Messages will be given to the family.
He was married to Diena Thieszen on Nov. 25, 1949, at Bethesda Mennonite Church. To this union were born three children, Philip Arden, Ivan Lee and Jean Carol. In the 1950s and 60s he developed Central Irrigation, Inc., a fertilizer and irrigation well drilling business and York Manufacturing Co., a grain bin and grain system handling business.
Following the sale of these businesses Gordon traveled extensively, as a volunteer, while developing foreign trade for the grain storage industry. Travels included Central and South America, including Paraguay, Bolivia, and Brazil, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakstan, Mongolia and Ecuador.
Gordon served on many boards and organizations. They include Henderson Community School, American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, and Foundation for the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia of which he served as President. He served many years on the Mennonite Mutual Aid Board, Bethel College Board and Executive Committee, and Henderson Park Committee. In later years Gordon enjoyed reading and travel. He did extensive study on his Russian Mennonite Heritage.
Gordon was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel J. and Marie Tieszen Schmidt and his sister-in-law, Jean Thieszen. Surviving are his wife of 65 years, Diena Schmidt; children Philip and wife Roberta (Reimer) Schmidt of Henderson, Ivan Schmidt and wife Phyllis Cron of Steamboat Springs, Colo., Jean and husband Terry Lancaster of Shawnee, Okla.; four grandchildren, Grant and wife Jami Schmidt of Henderson, Halie and husband Aaron Smith of Wichita, Kan., Katie and husband Bryan Kelly, Norman, Okla. and Trevor and wife Tiffany Schmidt of Seward; six great-grandchildren, Austin and Taylor Schmidt of Henderson, Asher and Amrie Smith of Wichita, Kan., Cameran Kelly of Shawnee, Okla. and Ethan Schmidt of Seward; brothers, Orville and wife Sandra Schmidt of Wakarusa, Ind., Allen and wife Mary Schmidt of Marion, S.D. and sister, Fyrne and husband Bob Schlenker of Freeman, S.D.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2015 at Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson. Rev. Jim Voth will officiate. Burial will be at 1:15 p.m. prior to the service at Bethesda Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2-9 p.m. Saturday and from 1- 9 p.m. Sunday at Metz Mortuary in Henderson. The family will be present to greet friends Sunday from 6:30- 8:30 p.m. The family requests that memorials be designated to the Bethesda Historical Committee or the Bethesda Radio Fund.
Condolences may be emailed to Metz Mortuary Messages will be given to the family.