Richard M. Schmit

CREIGHTON — Services for Richard M. Schmit, 87, of Creighton will be Monday, June 2, 2014, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Osmond. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. The Revs. Michael Swanton and Jeff Lorig will officiate. Military rites will be provided by American Legion Post 326 and VFW Post 7838 of Osmond. Visitation will be Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m., at the church, with a Rosary at 7 p.m. at the church. He died Friday, May 30, 2014, at Creighton Care Center. Stonacek Memorial Chapel in Osmond is in charge of arrangements. Richard M. Schmit was born to Nicholaus and Elizabeth (Olinger) Schmit on July 7, 1926, in Osmond. He attended rural grade school and graduated from Atkinson High School in 1944. He married Delores C. Meyer on Aug. 18, 1958, St. Wenceslaus in Verdigre. When Richard was young, his family moved to Atkinson where he grew up on a farm. He worked at Council Oak Stores until 1950 when he entered the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Germany for a greater part of two years and was honorably discharged in 1952. He served in the reserves from 1952 to 1956. In 1952, Richard entered into a partnership with his brother, Raymond, to buy the Osmond Café and Bar. In 1958, he married, and the couple spent most of their married life in Osmond, with the past six years spent in Creighton. Richard worked at Osmond Seed and Feed and Osmond Co-op for many years. He was very active even after retirement doing multiple jobs. He was always willing to help a neighbor or a friend. He drove the Osmond Hospital van transporting patients to and from their appointments. He delivered Meals on Wheels, did mowing, scooped snow, worked at the grocery stores and recycling center, played cards with his buddies, attended bingo and did square dancing with his wife. His 14 grandchildren brought him much joy. Richard will long be remembered as a dedicated family man who modeled his faith and worked hard to support his family. Richard was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, recording secretary for the Catholic Order of Foresters, member of the Knights of Columbus, American Legion Post 326, VFW Post 7838 and former volunteer fireman and EMT. Survivors include his wife, Delores Schmit of Creighton; children Beata (Tom) Rudloff of Battle Creek; Kenneth (Brenda) Schmit of Gretna, Annette (Tim) Ott of Blair, Maria (Win) Lander of Omaha, Bryan (Donna) Schmit of Garnett, Kan., and Bruce (Karen) Schmit of Omaha; 14 grandchildren: Josh and Aaron Rudloff; Adam and Brandon Schmit, Alex, Natalie and Michaela Ott; Chris and Emily Lander; Jenna, Katie, Nathan and Kristen Schmit; and Katelyn Schmit; three brothers: John and wife Eileen Schmit of O’Neill, Ben Schmit of O’Neill, and George and wife Udonna Schmit of Atkinson; four sisters: Betty Meyer of Wayne; Leona and husband, Len Troshynski of Guthrie Center, Iowa; Catherine and husband Jim Steinhauser of Stuart; and Eleanor Jones and special friend John Hurley of Atkinson; sisters-in-laws Pat Schmit of Belmond, Iowa; Shirley Schmit of Osmond; Evelyn Pierce of Verdigre; Dorene Schmit of Des Moines, Iowa; and Phyllis Cannon of Mountain Home, Idaho; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Nicholaus and Elizabeth (Olinger) Schmit; father- and mother-in-law, Andrew and Lucy Meyer; brothers, Michael, Nick, Raymond and Clarence; sister, Rose Mary Schmit; sisters- and brother-in-laws MaryAnn and Richard Osborne, Robert and Eva Ruzicka, JoAnn and Jerome Gubbels, Marvin and Gertrude Ruzicka, Mary Alice Schmit, Milo Meyer and Earl Jones. Music for the service will be provided by organist Sue Wingert and the St. Mary’s Choir, which will sing “Here I am Lord,” “Servant Song,” “Gift Of Finest Wheat,” “Supper Of The Lord,” “Amazing Grace,” and “On Eagles Wings.” Casket bearers will be Jim Schmit, Jerry Schmit, Roger Schmit, Roger Ruzicka, Lynn Pierce and Matt Gubbels.

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Richard M. Schmit

July 7, 1926 - May 30, 2014