Clarence 'Smitty' Schmid

HOLBROOK -- Clarence "Smitty" Schmid, 80, died Thursday (July 17, 2003) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.

He was born Sept. 22, 1922, to Fred and Anna (Obermiller) Schmid. He grew up north of Arapahoe and graduated in 1941 from Arapahoe High School.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II where he received a Purple Heart.

On Jan. 20, 1946, he married Dorothy Luhman in Arapahoe. The couple made their home in Holbrook where he drove the tank wagon for the Holbrook Co-op. In 1950, the couple moved to a farm south of Holbrook. They lived there until they moved into Holbrook in 1973. In 1961, the couple purchased the tavern from Herb Ziebell in Holbrook and named it Smitty's Tavern, which he operated until 1980 when he sold it. From 1980 to 1986 he worked for the Arapahoe Co-op before retiring.

He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Arapahoe, was chairman of the Holbrook Village Board for 17 years and a member of Edison American Legion Post No. 343, Holbrook VFW Post No. 9357, Holbrook Lion's Club and served on the board of directors for the Central Plains Development Center.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister twins and brother, Richard Schmid.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy of Holbrook; three daughters, Phyllis Schmid of Watertown, Wis., Cecelia and husband, Bill Knoll of Centennial, Colo., and Claire and husband, Gary Glatki of Marstons Mills, Mass.; one sister, Minnie and husband, Bob Jackson of Duncan; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Services are Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arapahoe with the Rev. Carl Lilienkamp officiating. Burial with military honors will be at Holbrook Cemetery in Holbrook.

Visitation is today, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., and Tuesday until service time at Wenburg Funeral Home.

Memorials are suggested to Bethesda Lutheran Home in Watertown, Wis.

Wenburg Funeral Home in Arapahoe is in charge of the arrangements.