Esther M. Schmidt

Esther M. Schmidt, age 82, of Kearney, died Thursday, May 6, 2010 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.Funeral Service will be Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 10:30 A.M. at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church with Pastor Jack Heck and Pastor Duane Duley officiating.Burial will be at the Elm Creek Cemetery at 2:00 P.M.Visitation will be Monday from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral Home in Kearney.The family will be present during visitation at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Holy Cross Lutheran Church.A message of condolence, tribute or memory can be left at www.hlmkfuneral.com. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Service of Kearney are in charge of arrangements. Esther was born November 9, 1927 in Norfolk, Nebraska to Otto and Lora (Colley) Schultz.Esther received Christian Baptism on the 23rd day of March in the year of our Lord 1928.At the age of 6, after her Mother?s death, she was placed in an orphanage at Norfolk.Esther was adopted at the age of 10, by Louis R. Seemann and Ella M. (Schilling) in Potter, Nebraska.Esther in a blue satin dress rode the train from Norfolk out to Potter to meet her new family by herself.Esther attended St. Paul Lutheran School in Potter and graduated from the 8th grade.Esther married Melvin Walter Schmidt on September 12, 1948 in Potter.They lived on a farm in Waco, Nebraska until moving to Elm Creek in March of 1969.After retiring from the farm in Elm Creek in November of 1988 they made their home in Kearney.She was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, and was active in the quilting group at the church.She enjoyed spending time with her family.She was a great cook and enjoyed cooking for her family.As she was getting ready for any Holiday she would craft special nut cups, napkin rings or holders to place your silverware in.She enjoyed putting puzzles together with her Grandchildren when they were younger.Her passion in life was her garden, flowers, and plants.There wasn?t anything that she couldn?t get to grow.She enjoyed canning and made the best pickles.She had another passion and that was after her kids were raised, she made quilts.She made many quilts for family and friends.She also helped make quilts at the church.Never idle, she would set watching TV and be embroidering quilt blocks, dresser scarves, pillow tops, pillowcases, and doilies.Esther lost her eye sight in the fall of 2004 and could no longer quilt, but still could water her plants by touching the soil to see if they needed watering. Surviving Relatives: Husband: Melvin Schmidt of Kearney, NE Sons Allan and Linda Schmidt of Elm Creek, NE Elton and Beth Schmidt of Belton, MO Wayne Schmidt of Shelton, NE Daughter: Janice and Harold Sawtelle of Omaha, NE Grandchildren Kathy Swinarski, Tara Beezley, Rebecca Schmidt, Mark Schmidt, Dominic Sawtelle, Christina Peters, Thomas Sawtelle, Luke Sawtelle, Rose Sawtelle, Matt Schmidt, Ben Schmidt, Sarai Schmidt, Amy Johnson, and Quincy Schmidt Great Grandchildren Samantha Beezley, Tyler Swinarski, Cody Swinarski, Kadyn Schmidt, Keyan Schmidt, Maddilyn Peters, Megan Peters,Madison Schmidt, Kaylie Johnson, and Dylan Johnson Esther was preceded in death by her parents, and one brother Delbert Seemann. PDF Printable Version

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Esther M. Schmidt

November 9, 1927 - May 6, 2010