Elizabeth Schmidt

Elizabeth was born to Clarence and Mabel Obrecht in Spirit Lake, Iowa and raised in Holstein, Iowa. She attended Carleton College for 2 years, where she met her husband, Paul. They were married in 1950 and moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where she graduated with a B.A. in economics from the University of Wisconsin. In 1953, Liz and Paul moved to Columbia, where Liz resided until her death.

Liz is well known throughout Columbia for her many civic volunteer activities. She was active in many areas and made a huge difference in so many lives, devoting countless hours to League of Women Voters (President and Observer), NAACP, Church Women United, Columbia Council of Churches, Interfaith Council, Calvary Episcopal Church (Sunday School teacher, Chairperson of Advent Bazaar, office volunteer), Wardrobe Thrift Store, Nora Stewart Early Learning Center, Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, KOPN radio station (disc jockey and bingo), Missouri Symphony Society, Boone County Human Development Association, Muleskinners (Treasurer), and Boone County Democrats. She was a frequent guest on Paul Pepper and Friends

Liz loved children and for many years served as a teacher’s aide at Grant School, getting a generation of children to believe that they could be learners. For years she also led Girl Scout Troop 505 at Grant School. She supported and volunteered at the Calvary Episcopal and the Prince of Wales Club Charity Horse Shows. She actively supported the Stephens College Equestrian Studies program.

Liz was involved in city government, as the first woman on the Columbia City Planning and Zoning Commission, appointed in 1971. She later served as Chairwoman of the Columbia Board of Adjustments. She served on the Columbia Environment and Natural Resources Commission. She believed strongly in the value of each individual and in racial and gender equality. Liz was a leader for open housing, president of the Citizens Committee for Fair Housing in Columbia, activist for Boone County Home rule, and campaigned for the Equal Rights Amendment. While she had political differences with some, she believed strongly in individual beliefs and civil discourse. Liz abhorred violence, and was a fixture at the Columbia downtown Post Office every Saturday morning, advocating for peace among all.

Liz brought a deep sense of care, a bright smile, infectious laughter, and a positive can-do attitude to everything she did. When she encountered people with individual needs, she would not just provide aid, but developed true friendship. Some of these relationships lasted for a few months; many lasted Liz’s lifetime.

Among many public recognitions, Liz received the Outstanding Young Woman of Columbia (1963, Jaycee), Distinguished Citizen Award (Honorable Mention in 1968 for her work on open housing legislation), Outstanding Civic Leader in Columbia (given by the Missouri Municipal League), the 1978 Volunteer of the Year (Columbia Volunteer Action Center), the first Columbia Values Diversity Award (1998), the Lifetime Achievement in Peacemaking Award from the MU Peace Studies Program (2006) and Lt. Gov. Pete Kinder’s Senior Service Award (2016),.

Liz is survived by five children: Margaret Schmidt, Ann Piper (Blair Kaufman), Will (Wanda) Schmidt, Fred Schmidt (Cathy Rosenholtz) and Mary (Chuck) Dahm, Liz’s brother Norton Obrecht and his wife Eunice, a sister-in-law Henri Schmidt, and nephew Tom (Kristine) Obrecht and great-nieces Sarah and Carrie. Liz had 6 grandchildren: Beth (Josef) Jansen, Michael Piper, Laura Piper, Aaron Dahm, Corey Dahm and Emmanuel Cardenales. Liz was preceded in death by her husband Paul in 1998.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Columbia League of Women Voters, the Columbia chapter of the NAACP, or Calvary Episcopal Church.

Arrangements are through Memorial Funeral Home in Columbia, to which all correspondence may be sent.