Peter O. Schmidt, 81, of Oakland NE

Peter O. Schmidt. age 81, of Oakland, Nebraska passed away Thursday, January 28, 2016 at Nebraska Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.  Funeral services will be  held Monday, February 1, 2016, at 11 a.m. at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland with Rev. Mark Eldal officiating.  Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery.  Visitation is on Sunday from 4-8 p.m., with family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Services in Oakland. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to service at the church.  Memorials are suggested the  Golden Oaks Center in Oakland.  Arrangements by Pelan Funeral Services in Oakland.

Peter was born December 1, 1934 in Oakland, Nebraska to Peter Carl and Ruth Marie (Schlichting) Schmidt. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in rural Lyons, Nebraska. He was a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland. He attended country school at Bertha and District 43. He also attended Oakland High School.

On January 30, 1954, Pete married Lois Jean Sorensen at the First English Lutheran Church in Russell, Minnesota. They made their home on the Schmidt family farm in rural Oakland where Pete farmed and worked at the Phillips 66 Station in Oakland and served with the Army National Guard in Fremont, Nebraska. In 1966 they moved to town and he started a corn shelling, custom combining, and trucking business. He trucked locally and over the road until he retired to care for Lois. After Lois passed, he continued doing seasonal trucking until his passing.

Pete enjoyed spending time with his family. He enjoyed his grandchildren and took pride in their accomplishments no matter how big or small. He enjoyed playing cards, spending time at the Golden Oaks Senior Center, and attending community activities.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois; father, Peter; mother and stepfather, Ruth and Joe Gunkel; grandson, Benjamin Schmidt.

Survivors include; sons, Randy (Mary) Schmidt of Cedar Falls, IA, Timothy (Rosa) Schmidt of Oakland; daughter Brenda (Kent) Andersen of Oakland; five grandchildren, Aleah Unwin of Omaha, Samuel Schmidt of Oakland, Kaleb (Luryn) Andersen of Oakland, Maxwell (Paige) Andersen of St. George KS, William Andersen of Oakland; three great grandchildren, Jacob Unwin, Olivia Unwin, Emersen Andersen all of Oakland; brothers, Klemens Schmidt of Austin TX, Paul (Alice) Schmidt of Cabot AR; sister, Joellen (John) Stoner of Marion IN; many nieces and nephews. He also held dear Mark and Jodi Peterson, and their children Lane, Johnna, and Kara.

Peter Schmidt