Cyril Schmeidler

Obituary



Cyril J. Schmeidler, age 100, died at Via Christi, Hays, KS, on Saturday, September 26, 2020. Cyril John Schmeidler was born at Catharine, KS, on October 7, 1919, the eldest son of John Schmeidler and Emma (Wolf) Schmeidler. He served his country for 3 years during World War II and was a lifelong farmer in the Catharine area.

Cyril graduated from Hays High School in 1937 and St. Josephs College and Military Academy in 1939. He moved to Washington, DC shortly thereafter and married his childhood sweetheart, Mildred Karlin, on June 7, 1943 in Jacksonville, FL prior to departing for Europe for the war. He was a clerk typist in the Seventh Corps, U.S. Army, and was discharged in late 1945, having attained the rank of corporal.

After the war, he returned to Ellis County to take up farming. He and Mildred rejoiced in the births of their four sons, weathered the droughts of 1950s, and rebuilt their new home and the farmstead after they were destroyed by a tornado in 1959. He was active on the farm north of Catharine well into his mid-nineties, and said that he was happiest when he was on the tractor. Cyril also was active in St. Catherines Catholic Church and in the Ellis County community throughout his life. He briefly taught at Severin School in the late 1940s. He served several terms on the St. Catherines Parish Council. He was a Catharine Township trustee for many years, a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)-Hays and a member of the Hays American Legion. He was a charter member of the Farmers Credit Union, Hays, served on the board & was board president. He served as president of the Ellis County Extension Council. He received conservation awards from the Ellis County Soil Conservation District. In the mid-1970s, he was a co-owner and the general manager of the Victoria Grain Company. He sold insurance and was an accomplished carpenter.

Although it may be said that Cyrils favorite pastime was working (except Sundays), he also loved to play cards, especially pinochle and solo. He always seemed to know what cards others had in their hands or what card they were about to play. He loved to dance, and learned to square dance with his second wife.

Cyril Schmeidler was preceded in death by his first wife, Mildred, who died in 1972; his second wife, Alice Unrein, whom he married on August 23, 1975 and who died in April 2019; his siblings and their spouses: Solana Moore (Paul); Fidelia Herbert (Charles), Sr. Solana Schmeidler, Celestine Schmeidler (Marcella), Harold Schmeidler (Norma), and Gilbert Schmeidler (Mary Ann), and two great-grandchildren.

He is survived by four sons: Neal (Lorrinda), Springfield, VA; Phil (Brenda), Hays, KS; Michael (Cheryl) Hays, KS; Lloyd (Brenda), Durham, NC; twelve grandchildren, thirty great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Cyril John Schmeidler will be held on Wednesday, September 30th at 11 AM at St. Catherines Church in Catharine. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 AM at the church, with a Parish Rosary at 10:30. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with military honors courtesy of the Hays VFW Honor Guard.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all visitors are expected to wear facial coverings throughout the services.

Memorial gifts may be made to St. Catherines Church, Thomas More Prep-Marian, Via Christi Chapel, or the Dominican Sisters of Peace. The family is grateful for the loving care provided by the team at Via Christi to Cyril and Alice Schmeidler during their stay there.

Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com

Arrangements in care of Brocks-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

















Services







Visitation Wednesday

September 30, 2020

9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

St. Catherine



Catharine, KS









Recitation of the Rosary Wednesday

September 30, 2020

10:30 AM

St. Catherine



Catharine, KS









Funeral Mass Wednesday

September 30, 2020

11:00 AM

St. Catherine



Catharine, KS