Schmidt, Steven John, 1935-1940

SCHMIDT, BROWN, MORGAN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/7/2022 at 13:30:34

From the Alton Democrat, July 5, 1940:

Steven Schmidt Funeral Held

Steven John Schmidt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin C. Schmidt of Alton, was born Sept. 6, 1935, in Battle Creek, Iowa, and died in his home at Alton, Iowa, Saturday, June 29, 1940, at the age of four years, nine months and twenty-three days.

Little Steven, a beautiful and apparently normal child of sunny disposition, became ill on May 18th of this year. Despite all the loving care and devotion showered on him by his parents, relatives and friends and the benefits of all the medical skill available, he grew steadily weaker. As he slept peacefully in the morning hours Saturday, his spirit left his frail body and entered into that Better Land, the “Land That Is Fairer Than Day” to be forever with the Master, who said “Let the little ones come unto Me.”

Steven had spent most of his life in Battle Creek and moved with his parents and brother and sister to Alton in June, 1939. He is survived by his sorrowing parents, brother Melvin Clarke and sister Joan Elaine, all of Alton; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Clark Brown and Mr. and Mrs. John J. Schmidt of Battle Creek, and great-grandmother, Mrs. Elizabeth Morgan of Washta; his aunts, Helen Schmidt of Waukegan, Ill., Mildred Brown of Sioux City, Mrs. Elmo Oslund of Ida Grove and Elaine Brown of Battle Creek, besides many other relatives and friends who will miss his cheery smile and presence. [followed by a sentimental poem]

The funeral services in Battle Creek were conducted by the Rev. S. A. Munneke, pastor of the Alton Presbyterian church, at the funeral home. He was assisted by Rev. A. Rumbaugh.

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His death certificate (informant Melvin C. Schmidt) has Steven John Schmidt; born Sept. 6, 1935 in Battle Creek, Ida County, Iowa; parents Melvin Charles Schmidt, born in Battle Creek, Iowa, and Opal Lavone Brown, born in Correctionville, Iowa; resident of Alton one year; died at 10:15 a.m. June 29, 1940; cause, acute lymphatic leukemia, duration 2 months; other conditions: secondary anemia, secondary thrombocytopenia[?]; buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Battle Creek, Iowa. [The 1940 U.S. census shows his father to have been a telephone company lineman.]