Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 11, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at the Sheridan Lake Bible Church in Sheridan Lake. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at the church. Burial will take place in the Towner Cemetery. Mr. Schmidt died at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas following a brief illness.


Carl Victor Schmidt was born on April 14, 1928 to Bernhard and Lena Schmidt at Newton, KS. He met his Savior November 7, 2011 in Hays, Kansas. He was 83 years old. Carl was 7th of 9 children born to his parents. When Carl was 3 years old he and his family moved to Ulysses to pursue farming. He attended Spring Valley grade school, which was located in rural Grant County. It was during this time when Carl was 8 years old, that he accepted Christ as his personal Savior and was baptized, publicly declaring his faith.


As Carl matured in stature and in faith, farming became his profession and his passion. He worked for various farmers and ranchers in the Ulysses area until 1948. At this time, he and his father purchased some land in the Towner, Colorado area, and suitcase farmed until April of 1959. It was during this time that Carl met Freda Roth at Ulysses. After a 9 month courtship they were wed at LaJunta Mennonite Church in LaJunta, Colorado on October 25, 1958. Out of this union God blessed Carl and Freda with 3 beautiful girls, Dorcas, Esther and Rhoda.


Carl and Freda built a new home 6 miles north of Towner in 1966. During the construction of their home, Carl suffered a traumatic farming accident, which required the amputation of his right leg above the knee. This accident redefined Carl physically, and Carl recently told us, He thought his farming career was over when it happened. He was fitted with an artificial leg, and he was soon back on his beloved tractor, doing what he loved. This is the Carl that we all knew and loved. He farmed and ranched in Towner the rest of his life.


Carls faith was important to him, and he faithfully attended Sheridan Lake Bible Church all the years he lived in Towner. He served the Lord as a trustee for the church for several years. He was then elected to the position of elder, which he held for 40 years.


He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Freda, three daughters, Dorcas Berggren (Bryan) of Towner, Colorado, Esther Caywood (Jim), of Buhler, Kansas, Rhoda Boucher (Joe), of Buena Vista, Colorado, eight grandchildren, Michael Berggren, Manhattan, Kansas, Jayme, Amanda and Abigail, of Towner, Colorado, Sarah Jacobs (Jeff), Inman, Kansas, Andrew Caywood, Buhler, Kansas, Kelsi-Jo and Jacob Boucher, Buena Vista, Colorado and two great grandchildren, Carter and Benjamin Jacobs, Inman, Kansas.


Carl was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Dan, Harry, two infant boys Ervin and Harvey, and a sister Verna Harms.


Today, we rejoice in the fact that Carl no longer is bound by the limitations of his earthly body, and he is most assuredly singing praises to his Heavenly Father. (Even on key!)