Esther Schmidt

Esther Schmidt of Wichita, Kansas (97) died on November 16, 2020. Esther was born in rural Whitewater, Kansas to parents Jacob and Marie Dyck.

She attended Lone Star Elementary School and Potwin High School in Butler County, Kansas. Esther graduated from Bethel Deaconess School of Nursing in 1946, in Newton, Kansas. She attended Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas, a year afterward.

Esther worked several nursing positions in Kansas before taking one in Beatrice, Nebraska. There she met Walter Schmidt whom she married on August 24, 1949. In Beatrice they had Katharine, who died in infancy, and Paul. They attended Beatrice Mennonite Church and farmed for 5 years together before she, Walter, and son Paul moved to Wichita, Kansas in January, 1955. In Wichita, they had 3 more children, Anita, John, and Julie.

They were members of Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church there. Esther started a Preschool in Wichita and worked there for 3 years. Esther continued with her nursing career on and off until she retired.

Esther is survived by daughters, Anita and Julie (Don Mokrynski), son John (Jean Wollmann), and grandchildren Amanda, Benjamin (Erik Paulson), Kaete, and Isabelle.

She is preceded in death by her husband, daughter Katharine, son Paul and daughter-in-law Deborah, parents, six sisters and eight brothers.

A virtual memorial service will be Sunday, November 29, 2020. A slideshow of pictures from Esther's life and family will begin playing at 1:45pm and the rest of the service will begin at 2:00pm.

Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86920312935?pwd=QVAzZTR2T3BLTkFxQ2VVSnQ1amhUdz09

Meeting ID: 869 2031 2935 | Passcode: 689179 | Join by Phone: 1 (346) 248-7799