Harold E. Schmidt

Harold is survived by his children Mark (Karen), Paul (Christine), David (Marla), Ellen, and Jon (Nadine). He is also survived by his sisters, Doris, Edith, Mary (Jim), his brother Lawrence (Jane), his sister-in-law Beverly, his brother-in-law Richard and his sister-in-law Judy. He is also survived by many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Harold was born on January 15, 1928 on a farm 15 miles northeast of Waterloo, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church near Klinger, Iowa. Harold attended high school and college at Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois.

Harold met his future wife, Ruth Joan Schumacher at Concordia, and they were married in 1950. They shared the next 67 years together, until her death in 2017.

Harold was dedicated to his students and the church, beginning with his initial positions as teacher and principal at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Brentwood Missouri from 1950-1955, principal at Immanuel Lutheran School in Waterloo, Iowa from 1955-1960, and as an educational missionary in Hong Kong from 1960-1970.

After his ordination as a Lutheran minister, Harold served as pastor at First Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska from 1971-1993, and at Pohoco Lutheran Church near Fremont, Nebraska from 1997 until his retirement in 2012. He also served as interim minister at many area churches.

During his lifetime, Harold touched and enhanced many lives; he will be deeply missed.

A visitation is scheduled for Saturday, June 27, 2026 at Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church (2650 Farnam Street, Omaha, Nebraska) at 10 a.m. followed by a service at 11 a.m. The service will be live streamed at kmlchurch.org.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Harold Schmidt Fund at the Omaha Community Foundation (omahafoundation.org).