Schmitt, Oray – 1895-1965

BISSINGER, JONES, KEMPER, MCDANIEL, SCHMITT, STEINHELBER, TOWNSEND, VAN MAANEN

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:35

Oray Schmitt Died Suddenly Friday Afternoon
Oray Franklin Schmitt, 69, a lifelong resident of the Washington Center Community, died suddenly Friday afternoon, April 23rd, of a heart attack, while plowing the garden at his home.
The son of Phillip and Minnie Steinhelber Schmitt, he was born August 2, 1895, at the farm home in the Washington Center Community where he resided all of his lifetime.
He received his education in the Washington Center School.
Mr. Schmitt was married to Dorathea Kemper Bissinger on June 11, 1940 at Muscatine.
He was a member of the Colfax Baptist Church and the Short Horn Cattle Association.
Mr. Schmitt took special pride and joy in his gardening, and often brought some of his fine vegetables to show at the Tribune office.
He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Oscar, Everett and George.
Survivors are his wife, Dorathea; two daughters, Mrs. Shirley Townsend of Newton and Mrs. Doris McDaniel of Colfax; a stepson, Melvin Bissinger of Monroe; a brother, Lester Schmitt of Monroe; two sisters, Mrs. Bert Van Maanen of Colfax and Mrs. Thomas Jones of Des Moines and 2 step grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Monday, April 26th at 3:00 p.m. at the Colfax Methodist Church. Rev. Dale Nicholson, minister of the church, conducted the services.
Miss Mable Kaldenberg was the soloist and Mrs. Frank B. Evans the organist.
Bearers were: Henry Steenhoek, Luke Vander Linden, Frank Tiffany, Edward Brandhof, Lyle Schmitt and Vinton Ward.
Serving on the flower committee were Mrs. Henry Steenhoek, Mrs. Edward Brandhof and Mrs. Fred Schlosser.
Burial was in the McKeever Cemetery.

Washington Center news
The community was shocked at the sudden death of Oray Schmitt last Friday afternoon.
Out of town relatives and friends attending the funeral of Oray Schmitt Monday afternoon were: Oscar Kemper and Pete Hunt, Wapello, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Casper, Mr. and Mrs. George Casper, Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Thompson, Britt, Mr. and Mrs. Walter McDaniel, Mrs. Francis Osborne and Karla, Mrs. Florence McDaniel, Leon, Mrs. Thomas Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Hansen, Mrs. J. Jackson, Des Moines, Mrs. Dorothy Kaldenberg, Norwalk, Mrs. George Vander Schel, Prairie City, Mrs. Darrell McCuen and children, Mrs. Lela Cochran and Mrs. Dorothy Booth of De, Des Moines.
Source: Colfax Tribune; Thursday, April 29, 1965