Mr. Ethan Andrew Schmidt, 39, of Cleveland, passed away Monday, September 14, 2015, in Cleveland. Miss. Visitation will be 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, September 19, 2015, at Peabody High School Brown Building in Peabody, Kansas. Celebration of Life will follow beginning at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, September 19, 2015, at same location, with Rev. James Pohlman Jr and Rev. Sylvia Czarnetzky officiating. Interment will be in Prairie Lawn Cemetery, Peabody, Ks. Mr. Schmidt was born September 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 Masters degree in History and Social Sciences. He then studied and achieved his doctorate degree from Kansas University. On December 19, 1998, he married Elizabeth Ann Skolaut in Emporia, Kansas. In 2005, he began working as a professor at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX and remained there until 2012.
In 2013 he and his family then moved to Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, where he taught for several years until his passing. He was a member of Calvary Episcopal Church in Cleveland, MS. 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 greast 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 thru the Emporia State University chapter as well 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, Conn.; sister-in-law, Angie and Flynn Harvey of Liberty, Mo; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and beloved friends. Pallbearers will be Chuck Westmoreland, Doug Jones, Jason Rucker, Chris Cade, Matt Brillheart, and Mike Alllen. In memory of Mr. Schmidt, donations may be made thru the Emporia State Foundation to the Phi Delta Theta Sound Learning and Leadership Fund, 1500 Highland St., Emporia, KS 66801. Or donate to his children's future education at https://www.gofundme.com/j546db5s To view and sign online guestbook, go to www.rayfuneralhome.net
Private Memorial Service
10:00 am Saturday, September 19, 2015
Calvary Episcopal Church 107 South Victoria Ave. Cleveland, Mississippi, United States
Held earlier today. Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Visitation
1:00 pm - 2:30 am Saturday, September 19, 2015
Peabody High School The Brown Building Peabody, Kentucky, United States
Celebration of Life
3:00 pm Saturday, September 19, 2015
Peabody High School The Brown Building Peabody, Kansas, United States
Interment
4:00 pm Saturday, September 19, 2015
Prarie Lawn Cemetery Peabody, Kansas Peabody, Kansas, United States