Leona M. Schmidt

Leona M. Schmidt, 95, of Spalding, NE, passed away Wednesday, March 3, 2022, at Brookstone Acres in Columbus, NE. Leona lived in Spalding until a fall in her home. She spent her final days in the care of Brookestone Acres Care Center in Columbus.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 10, 2022, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Spalding, NE with Fr. Lawrence Vadakkan officiating. Interment will follow at St. Michael's Cemetery, Spalding. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. at the church on Wednesday, March 9 ^th , with a 7:00 p.m. Wake Service to follow.

Memorials are suggested to the family for further designation to Hospice, Church, and others.

Levander Funeral Home of Spalding, NE are in charge of the arrangements.

Leona Marie Langer was born December 14, 1926 at Lastrup, Minnesota to Peter A. and Frederica Josephine (Glaser) Langer.  She moved to Spalding, NE with her parents and three siblings in 1931. She attended local schools, and graduated from Spalding Academy in 1944.  She relished being a country school teacher, then continued lifelong teaching of her children.

Leona married Francis J. (Smitty) Schmidt in 1947 at St Michael's Catholic Church in Spalding.  They owned and worked a ranch/farm north of Spalding, while raising four children: Eugene, James, Jerome, and Janet.  After farming they owned and operated a bar-business (Smitty's Liquor) in Spalding for 25 years, where due primarily to Leona's efforts it was known to be the 'cleanest and best decorated' bar in the countryside.

Leona was a lifelong Spalding Academy alumnus; a lifelong American Legion Auxiliary leader, a lifelong founding member (with Smitty and others) and the sole curator of the Spalding Caboose Museum.  She loved growing & grooming iris flowers, especially East of the caboose museum.  Leona was expert at all food canning, preserving, cooking and took great pride in quality meal preparation for small or large family gatherings. Leona was a lifelong member of St. Michael's church and a very religious woman, constantly praying for her entire family; she importantly received her Lenten Ash-Wednesday ashes before her death.

Leona is survived by her 98-years-young sister Eileen Bauer.  And her four children: Gene (Paula) of Houston, TX; Jim (Petra) of Omaha, NE; Jerry (Jackie) of Placerville, CA; Janet (John) Eggenberg of Omaha, NE.  And 9 grandchildren: Jennifer Alam, Chris (Kristi) Schmidt, Miranda (Marshall) Jordan, Valerie (Bo) Kennedy; Syndia (John) Pritchard; Jillian (Shaun) Kelish, Jesse (Gretta) Schmidt; Allison Eggenberg, Kayla Eggenberg.  Plus 11 great-grandchildren: Harper and Scarlett Schmidt; Maverick and Vance Jordan; Colt and June Kennedy; Ryan (Christine) Pritchard, Jenn (Austin) Lucero; Avalon, Eloise, and Eddie Kelish.  And 4 great-great-grandchildren: Abby Pritchard, and Aidan, Thea, and Raleigh-James Lucero.  And survived by sisters-in-law JoAnn Pritchard, Luella Keber, and Eva Langer; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, their families, and many special friends.

Family members who preceded her in death were her parents Peter and Frederica Langer, her husband Francis (Smitty) Schmidt; her infant sister Evelyn Langer; her brothers Ambrose Langer and Melvin Langer; brothers-in-law: Rich Bauer, Julius Schmidt, Mark Pritchard, Frank Pfeifer, Don Walters, Bud Keber, Dick Diessner and Bill Watson. And sisters-in-law: Helen Langer, Mary Ann Pfeifer, Alvina Watson, Lois Schmidt, and Rose Marie Walters.