Mr. Schmidt, of Hays, Kansas, was a retired farmer. His wife, Kiliana, died in 2003.

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Cyril Alphonse Schmidt, 87, died Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004, at his home on the farm near Hays. He was born Sept. 21, 1917, in Catherine to Paul and Catherine (Walters) Schmidt.

He married Kiliana Pfeifer on Aug. 23, 1943, in Hays. She died March 3, 2003.

He and his wife were presented the Master Farmer-Master Homemaker Award by Kansas State University and received the Salina Diocesan Rural Commission Stewardship Award. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 1325 and the Bishop Cunningham Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus and St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hays.

Survivors include four sons, Tom Schmidt and wife Jean, Leavenworth, Charles Schmidt and wife Melly, Topeka, Allen Schmidt and wife Ellen, Stafford, Va., and Paul Schmidt and wife Maryann, Chesapeake, Va.; three daughters, Margaret Rolen and husband Robert, Hermiston, Ore., Laura Sadeghi and husband Michael, Hays, and Jean Kiser and husband Randy, Logan; three brothers, Jerome Schmidt, Marion Schmidt and Donald Schmidt; four sisters, Loretta Joy, Helen Edmonds, Cecilia Quint and Mary Schmidt; 27 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Edward, Alexius and Vincent, and a sister, Lydia Schreiner.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hays; burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. A perpetual adorer's rosary will be at 4 p.m. with a combined third and fourth degree Knights of Columbus rosary at 6:30 p.m., followed by a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., all Friday at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 20th and Pine. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Memorials and suggested to TMP-Marian High School or Holy Family Elementary School, in care of the funeral home.

Hays Daily News, 10/14/2004