KENNEBEC, SD – Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 16, at his church, Kennebec Lutheran Church, at 11:00 AM, with visitation one hour prior to service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to Kennebec Lutheran Church.
James A Schmidt was born on July 31, 1942, in Grand Island, NE, to Maynard and Bertha (Horton) Schmidt. His family moved to South Dakota when he was young, and he graduated from Eagle Butte High School, and then served in the Army from to 1964-1966. Upon his discharge, he moved to Kennebec, SD to work at the Farmer’s Union Elevator, where he worked his entire working life until retiring. He was a proud member of the Kennebec Lutheran Church.
He enjoyed many different hobbies and pursuits, including hunting, fishing, trapping, making guns and musical instruments, writing music, gardening, making lures, tanning animal hides, reading, photography, painting (usually nature and wildlife). He was an avid gun enthusiast, participating in black powder gun rendezvous (making his buckskins and tools), shooting leagues, and hunting as often as he could! He also loved to fish, buying or making all the toys for his next fishing or hunting trip. He never missed a chance to shop at any sporting goods and gun shops! As long as we can remember there was nothing that Dad put his mind to that he couldn’t do.
He was married to Joyce Anderson on April 18, 1970, and easily walked into a readymade family of 3 daughters, and together, they had a son, Michael. His family was his pride and joy. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandson Gray. Gray, Grandpa, and Grandma had lots of fun adventures and a very special bond. As time passed, they continued to spend a lot of time together including attending church, Sunday lunch, welding, and just hanging out. Pat also treated ‘Dad’ like his bonus dad, and they were traveling partners always enjoying their trips together, whether for adventures or appointments.
Jim was recently diagnosed with cancer, and after a blessedly short illness, he passed away peacefully at Aurora-Brule Nursing Home in White Lake, SD on December 9th. He is survived by daughters Nila (Greg) Martinek, Margo (Pat) Mitchell, and Zeanna (Dan) Odens, and grandchildren, Clark (Charola) Martinek, Bryan (Shelley) and Grayson Mitchell, and Jason Odens, and great grandchildren, Drex and Max Martinek, and Carson, Emmy, and Owen Mitchell and sister Mary Neyhart and her sons, Tony (Melissa) & Troy (Leanne). He was preceded in death by his wife Joyce, and son Michael, his parents, Maynard and Bertha Schmidt, father-in-law & mother-in-law, Glen and Nora Anderson, and brother-in-law, Kurt Neyhart.
