Johann Adolph Schmidt

November 6, 1882 - April 21, 1948

Johann Adolph Schmidt was born November 6, 1882 in Massbach, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, to Johann and Katherina (Wenzel) Schmidt. When he was three years old he moved with his parents and brother Karl to Custer county, Nebraska, south of Oconto, and this is where he spent his early youth, receiving the usual education, and later confirmation instruction from Pastor Thieme. On March 28, 1897, he was confirmed in Christ Lutheran Church in Custer county. While the Schmidt family moved a number of times to various farm homes, all of these places were near Buffalo.

On March 3, 1905 Mr. Schmidt united in marriage with Miss Louise Lange. This union was blessed with seven children: Elizabeth (Zea), Eleonore (Ella), Wilhelm (Bill), Louis (Louie), Esther, Edna, and Alice, all born in the Buffalo community.

Mr. Schmidt was a faithful and devoted member of First Lutheran Church for many years and has served the congregation as an elder for 22 years. He served the Buffalo parish as a member of the school board for about 20 years.

On June 17, 1945, he had a stroke from which he never fully recovered. He fell asleep in the Lord on April 21, 1948, at the age of 65 years, five months and 14 days.

He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife Louise Schmidt; his two sons Bill (Hilda) Schmidt, Buffalo, and Louie Schmidt, Buffalo; his five daughters, Zea (Knute) Neben, Buffalo; Ella Schmidt, Buffalo; Esther (Zane) Gordon, Denver, Colorado; Edna (Alfred) Kopf, Buffalo; and Alice (Gerry) Kopf, Lincoln, Nebraska; one sister Louise (Pete) Spegel; three half sisters, Batetta (Carl) Struempler, Lexington; Dorothy (Henry) Schoning, Lexington, and Marie (Hans) Schultze; thirteen grandchildren as well as many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held Friday, April 23, 1948, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington with Rev. D. F. Luebke, officiating. Burial was in Buffalo Lutheran Cemetery.