KINSLEY - David Allen Schmidt graduated to his next estate on April 3, 2023, just 3 days after his 72nd birthday. He was born March 31, 1951 to Joan Thornton Schmidt and Harold E. Schmidt. in Kinsley, Kan. He was loved by his grandma Elsie as he was born with deformities that she often agonized over. David attended schools in Wichita and then Kinsley; he was the oldest of three other siblings, Rhonda, Tom and Jan (Hildenbrand). He was their fierce defender and would often scare them with his thriller stories. He was fortunate to have many cousins to be raised in this community as his aunts were very close group of sisters. David worked for the City of Kinsley, first as a sanitation worker, then as a reserve officer then as police officer. His interest in law enforcement became a driving force and he would attend KLETC, and graduate then serve the community of Kinsley that he loved so dearly. He was line officer and then Sgt, then chief and later resigned after 18 years of City of Kinsley service. He then went to the Larned State Hospital and worked at the Dillon building enjoying the criminal encounters and stories gleaned from the clientele. He would transfer to the Department of Corrections soon after Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility opened. He would work the night shift and loved that shift and end up retiring in 2009.  David’s interest would be the go-to person for firearms questions of any kind. You could ask him what the model was, or which one was the best with which type of ammunition. He studied it out and read about it often. As a youth he was good at building models especially military vehicles/airplanes/tanks etc. He loved studying the art of war, it probably made him the challenging chess player that he was, David love to help anyone out with their lack of skills in shooting, or chess playing. David had a strong faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement for all mankind. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as a teacher, and counselor in Young men’s group as well as Bishopric. David leaves behind his wife, Tina (Landes) Schmidt, of Garfield; a daughter Davika Puls of Jacksonville Fla.; 3 sons John of Vinta, Okla.; Barney Peters (Shelby) and Jason Peters (Kodi), all of Orem, Utah. His siblings, Rhonda (Ron) Burkhart; Tom (Debbie) Hildenbrand; and Jan Keddie. He has 12 grandkids, Zachary Schmidt, Alax Puls, Alayna Puls, Ben Puls, of Jacksonville, Fla.; Clark, Lexi, Max and Tad Peters; and Jacob, Tyler and Landon Peters all of Orem, Utah. He has 5 nieces and 2 nephews with great nephews and nieces.  David was preceded in death by his stepfather Tom Hildenbrand Sr., mother Joan Hildenbrand, father Harold Schmidt, and grandson Nathan Schmidt.

Services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5851 Eisenhower Avenue in Great Bend on Saturday the 15th at 10 a.m., and an inurement at 3:30 p.m. at Hillside Cemetery in Kinsley Kan.

Funeral arrangements by

McKillip Memorial Funeral Home

623 Marsh Ave.

Kinsley, KS, 67547

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, April 22, 2023