Rogena "Jean" Schmidt

May 9, 1930 - November 8, 2020

Rogena May (Meier) Schmidt was born on May 9, 1930 to Fred and Edna (Dobernacker) Meier, on a farm west of Persia. She was baptized at a relative’s home in Harlan on January 11, 1931. She one of ten children born to her parents. She attended country school close to the farm and graduated from Persia High School with the Class of 1948. After graduation, she got a job in Harlan and met her husband Edgar “Hack” Schmidt through friends. They were married at the courthouse in Council Bluffs on April 9, 1949. They were blessed with a fifty-three marriage and resided in Avoca. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca. Jean and Hack worked together at Pittman Super Value in Avoca for many years. In 1966, Jean started working at the AvoHa school and was dedicated for thirty-two years. She loved working with the students and all of the activities throughout the year. There wasn’t a student that she did not know or that didn’t stop in her office to talk. Jean sold Tupperware and enjoyed being out in the public helping others. After she retired, she worked various jobs throughout the Avoca community. Jean enjoyed attending her grandchildren and families activities, whether it was choir, band, plays, 4-H, cattle shows, competitions, basketball, softball or football games; she was always there and showing her support. Jean passed away on Sunday, November 8, 2020, at the Griswold Care Center, having attained the age of ninety years, five months and thirty days. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Hack; siblings Lotus Martin, Lavonne Springman, Fred Meier, Robert Meier, Ron Meier, Richard Meier and Deanna Huebner; brothers in law Marion Martin and Marvin Huebner; great grandchildren Kenneth and Neveah Schmidt. Left to cherish all the memories are her children Delores “Dee” (Stanley) Leaders of Minden, Iowa; Jeffrey Schmidt of Omaha, Nebraska; grandchildren Kristy (Josh) Wendell of Ogallala, Nebraska; Tim (Emily) Leaders of Minden, Iowa; Seth Schmidt and Kotie Schmidt of South Dakota; great grandchildren Jacob Wendell, Ali Leaders and Maddie Leaders; sisters-in-law Janet Meier, Mona Meier, Kathy Meier and Gloria Meier; brother-in-law Nick Springman; nieces and nephews, other family and many friends.