Arthur Schmidt was born February 24, 1923, to D.P. and Bertha (Krieger) Schmidt on the family farm northwest of Bessie, OK, and passed away May 22, 2013 in Westminster, CO.

As a young child, the family located on a couple of farms in the Custer City, OK area. In 1929, the family moved to the home place immediately west of Indianapolis, OK. It was there that he spent the remainder of his childhood and high school years. Art attended Red Rock Country School, Custer City School and graduating from Clinton High School in 1942.

Growing up on a farm, he performed many character building tasks. As with many others of his generation, he could fix almost anything with baling wire and tape.

On December 7, 1942, he enlisted in the newly formed Army Air Corps and was assigned to the 306th Squadron of the 442nd Troop Carrier Group which was a glider squadron. He participated in many operations during the war and found himself behind enemy lines many times which made his fluency in German an asset. His participation in the Invasion of Normandy found his glider landing in a plowed field behind enemy lines. He was an active participant in Operation Market Garden. Art was honorably discharged December 6, 1945.

After the war, he tried his hand at farming, working in a soda bottling plant, and working in a TB sanitarium. He then went to work with his uncle Ted Schmidt as a blacksmith in Gotebo, OK.

Art married Bertha Margaret Reimer on February 14, 1947. They have three children, Bobby R., Brenda Joyce and Marcia Kay.

Art considered and took the advice from his uncle Ted to go to college as life changing. In 1952, he and his family moved to Weatherford, OK. He graduated from Southwestern State College in 1953 majoring in Mathematics and Industrial Arts.

He continued to work for the College until 1961 when he took a high school teaching position at Burlington, CO. He progressed from classroom teacher to counselor to assistant principal to the first principal of the middle school before retiring in 1985.

Volunteerism and community service were a big part of Arts life. He was a member of the Burlington Lions Club for many years holding many local and state offices. He was on the Board of Directors of the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank eventually becoming President of the Board.

Art and his wife, Bertha, were active in the Burlington Senior Center delivering Meals on Wheels and serving on the board for many years. He was active at the Visitors Center for over 20 years amassing over 4,000 hours of volunteer service.

Serving as a Deacon for many years, Art was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Burlington. He served as a Deacon for many years. He and his good friend Tom McCauley could often be found fixing and maintaining things around the church.

In June of 2011, he and Bertha moved to Westminster, CO, to reside at Keystone Place at Legacy Ridge.

Art was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother Jacob, brothers Ewald and Herb, and sister Annie Harder.

Art is survived by his wife of 66 years, Bertha,children Bob (Monica) of Alva, OK, Brenda (Gary) Kottke of Westminster, CO, and Marcia (Rex) Mahlman of Hollister, MO, and brother Leonard Schmidt of Lubbock, TX, Grandchildren Tiffany Pierce, Bevan (Kelly) Devine Arch, Jason, Kerri (Chris) Beard, and Lindy (Joe) Charles, and Great grandchildren Zakery and Megan Pierce, Nathan, Laney, and Riley Beard, Elijah and Lucas Charles, and Leilani Devine.

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Chris Beard, family member, at the First Baptist Church of Burlington, CO, May 27, 2013, at 11:00 and Lindy Charles a granddaughter sang Arts favorite hymns. With interment following at Fairview Cemetery.

Arts Grandchildren were Pallbearers Bevan Devine Arch, Jason Schmidt, Kerri Beard, Joe Charles, Zakery Pierce, and Nathan Beard.

A special thanks to our VFW Post 6491 for honoring our father on this special Memorial Day.