Paul Schmidt

Paul Schmidt

SHAWNEE MISSION - Paul Schmidt, 88, died Wednesday (April 9, 2008) at Shawnee Mission Medical Center.

He was born Oct. 19, 1919, in Goessel, the son of Herman and Margaret Schmidt. They preceded him in death.

Paul's early years were spent on the farm in the Goessel area and in Newton. He graduated from Newton High School where he played as a guard on two Newton High School state championship basketball teams for Frank Lindley in 1936 and 1937. He was selected All-Ark Valley and All-State his junior and senior years. During his three varsity years, the Newton basketball team won 47 games and lost six, losing the 1938 state championship by one point. He was known for his defensive tenancity and always was assigned to guard the opposing team's leading scorer. He graduated from NHS in 1938.

His NHS basketball career allowed him to attend and graduate from the University of Colorado, where he played basketball under former Newtonian "Frosty" Cox. The team won the NIT tournament in New York in 1940. The team made a total of three trips to New York to play in Madison Square Garden and other Eastern cities, appearing in both the NIT and NCAA tournaments.

During World War II, he spent four years in the Civilian Public Service Camps, mostly in administrative functions.

He married Cathryn Erffmeyer in 1945.

After the war he served two years as controller of Bethel College in North Newton. Upon passing the CPA exam, he and Cathryn moved to Kansas City, Mo., in 1948 to meet the required experience for the license. He practiced as a CPA in the Kansas City area from 1948 to about 1997 with the firms JDM Crockett & Co., Schmidt & Co., and Schmidt, Cornish & Smith & Co.

He was a member of Lenexa United Methodist Church since 2003 and Meyer Boulevard United Methodist Church for more than 50 years, serving as church treasurer for more than 10 years. He taught Sunday school many years and served on the administrative council, some years as chairman. His early church experience was in the Newton area as a member of Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church. He was a member of the Kansas City Downtown Rotary Club for 51 years, the Missouri Society of CPAs, and various peace organizations, and was active in the Southeast Community Council for many years.

He is survived by Cathryn, his wife of more than 60 years; three sons and families, Grant and Denise of London, Ohio, Byron and Melissa of Columbus, Ohio, and Allan and Anne of Overland Park; three grandchildren, Josh and Ashley of Ohio and Lea of Overland Park; two nieces, Karla Voth and Sharon Glass; a nephew, Scott Voth; and a stepsister, Dorothy Miller.

He also was preceded in death by a younger sister, Wilma Voth.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Mt. Moriah & Freeman Chapel, 10507 Holmes Road in Kansas City, Mo. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. at the chapel prior to the service.

Memorial gifts may be made to Bethel College in North Newton, the Rotary Youth Camp in Lee's Summit, Mo., or the church.

Funeral arrangements are through Mt. Moriah & Freeman, (816) 942-2004.