Norma J. Schmidtberger, 87, of Overland Park, passed away Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, surrounded by her loving family at Overland Park Regional Medical Center.
The visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. with the Rosary being prayed at 10:15 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 1 at Cure of Ars Catholic Church, 9405 Mission Road, Leawood. Christian Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa.
Norma was born Sept. 16, 1935, in Rush County, the daughter of Wendelin and Pauline (Urban) Schmidt. She was a member of Cure of Ars Catholic Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Marvin in 2007, a son, Dale, in 2003, and sisters Margola and Melba, and brother Wendelin Jr.
Norma is survived by two daughters, Linda Coffee and husband Bill, Olathe, Sandy Mulvany and husband Tim, Roeland Park; daughter-in-law, Elaine Schmidtberger, Overland Park; and a son, Greg Schmidtberger and wife Lois, Edgerton; brothers, Irvin Schmidt, Wichita; Leon Schmidt and wife, Roseann, Wichita; Gary Schmidt and wife, Karen, Hot Springs, Melvin and wife, Connie, Victoria; and sister-in-law, Catherine Schmidt, Wichita; 10 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Norma grew up in western Kansas in the small German Catholic farming community of Pfeifer, just south of Hays. Raised with a sister and five brothers, they grew up hard working with a strong family bond and faith that they have passed on through the generations. She is proud to be from the home of one of the prettiest churches in Kansas, The Holy Cross Shrine.
Norma married her husband of 53 years, Marvin Schmidtberger, in a double wedding ceremony along with her sister Melba to Marvin’s brother Leroy. One of the families’ favorite stories to tell...Leroy was planning to marry Melba and their mom said to our dad, “If Leroy is getting married, you might as well marry Norma." The double wedding celebration was on, and the two couples were best of friends for life!
Norma spent her young married life raising four children in Mission, Kan., working as a cashier for area grocery stores and participating in parish life at St. Pius X. Guided by their own faith and strong work ethic, she and Marvin saw to it that the children were raised in a Catholic environment sending them to St. Pius X Elementary and Bishop Miege High Schools. As the kids attended high school, Norma used her cashier skills to own and operate the family convenience store “Handi Mart” just down the road from Lake Quivira. She finished her working career with Cardinal Office Supply in Mission, leaving to start many hours of babysitting as the grandchildren began to multiply.
One of the families’ fondest memories of our mom was her cooking. She loved preparing meals!! The recipe traditions she learned as a child in a large household prepared her to mostly memorize everything she cooked…many with interesting names: kaselabba (cheese sacks), the Schmidt family favorite, bierochs, galuskies, knoedel, kald shunka, schwartzberren kucken—all German names we could not pronounce, but all delicious! She was always baking and continued to send her famous cinnamon rolls with Dale’s lake buddies every year after his death in 2003. They always made a special trip to visit her and, of course, pick up the goodies! We always encouraged her to start her own catering company named “This Food Tastes like Schmidt." Her cooking will be missed, and we can only hope to carry on the tradition and figure out the recipes.
She loved the arrival of the casinos in Kansas City and would frequent them whenever given the chance. Family visits from her many brothers often found them all spending the night at one of the casinos. She loved to be in a crowd and cherished all the family reunions, weddings, and many events that brought the entire family together in Kansas City, Pfeifer and Wichita.
Growing up around the Schmidt and Schmidtberger clan, Norma developed a quick wit to deal with the onery men!! She kept us all laughing with her sarcasm and great sense of humor.
Mom was a beloved homemaker that held her family first in her heart. She had a strong faith, and it was rare to see her without a rosary in her hand. Her faith should be a reminder for all to follow and it helped her through life’s hardest moments. All who knew her loved her outgoing personality and knew she was always there to join in the fun, a good conversation or lend a helping hand. She simply loved to be around people.
We Love You Mom! Until we are all together again. Rest in Peace.
Compliments of Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 E. 22nd St., Hays, KS 67601.