in memoriam
expanded eulogies
Ethan Schmidt
Mr. Ethan Andrew Schmidt, 39, of Cleveland, passed away Monday, Sept. 14, 2015, in Cleveland, Mississippi.
Visitation will be 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, at Peabody-Burns High School Brown Building in Peabody, Kansas. Celebration of Life will follow beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, at the same location, with Rev. James Pohlman Jr. and Rev. Sylvia Czarnetzky officiating. Interment will be in Prairie Lawn Cemetery, Peabody, Kansas.
Mr. Schmidt was born Sept. 27, 1975, to Thomas Eugene Schmidt and Jeffery Sue Pierce Schmidt. He graduated from Peabody High School, then attended Emporia State University where he obtained his undergraduate degree and his master’s degree in history and social sciences. He then studied and achieved his doctoral degree from the University of Kansas. On Dec. 19, 1998, he married Elizabeth Ann Skolaut in Emporia, Kansas.
In 2005, he began working as a professor at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, and remained there until 2012. In 2013, he and his family moved to Cleveland, Mississippi, where he taught at Delta State University for several years until his passing.
He was a member of Calvary Episcopal Church in Cleveland, Mississippi. He loved to read, listen to music, and spend quality time with his wife and children. He was a devoted father and husband with family being the highest priority for him. He had a great sense of humor that he shared with everyone he came in contact with. Ethan’s first book, “The Divided Dominion: Social Conflict and Indian Hatred in Early Virginia,” was published by the University of Colorado Press in 2014. His second book, “Native Americans in the American Revolution,” was published by Greenwood Praeger/ABC-CLIO Publishing in 2015. He contributed numerous articles and reviews for various publications. In 2011, he was the winner of the President’s Award in Teaching Excellence from Texas Tech University. He was passionate about teaching and educating. He was a mentor and friend to many. He was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity through the Emporia State University chapter, and of many other professional organizations. He is preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Marie Pierce, and paternal grandfather, Don Schmidt.
Mr. Schmidt is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Skolaut Schmidt of Cleveland; children, Connor Schmidt, Dylan Schmidt, and Brianna Schmidt, all of Cleveland; parents, Tom and Susie Schmidt of Peabody, Kansas; brothers, Brett Schmidt (Jennifer) of Topeka, Kansas, and Jeff Schmidt (Carol) of Eudora, Kansas; nieces and nephews, Taylor and Logan Schmidt, both of Eudora, Kansas, and Carson and Tucker Harvey, both of Liberty, Missouri; paternal grandmother, Nellie Schmidt of Peabody, Kansas; maternal grandfather, Marshall Pierce of Newton, Kansas; wife’s parents, Chuck and Mary Skolaut of Newington, Connecticut; sister-in-law, Angie and Flynn Harvey of Liberty, Missouri; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and beloved friends.
Pallbearers will be Chuck Westmoreland, Doug Jones, Jason Rucker, Chris Cade, Matt Brillheart, and Mike Allen.
In memory of Mr. Schmidt, donations may be made through the Emporia State Foundation to Phi Delta Theta Sound Learning and Leadership Fund, 1500 Highland St., Emporia KS 66801.
Baker Funeral Home in Peabody is handling the services.