Clarence Elmer Schmidt

Hobart Democrat-Chief:
Services were held October 9 at the First United Methodist Church in Lone Wolf for Clarence E. Schmidt, 73, who died October 7, 1992, at Jackson County Memorial Hospital in Altus. Rev. Rick Robart of Lone Wolf and Don Jimison of Norman officiated.
He was born July 7, 1919, in Lone Wolf, the son of Herman and Lulah Reichart Schmidt.
He graduated from Lone Wolf High School in 1937 and attended the University of Oklahoma where he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.
He served from 1941 to 1945 in the U.S. Army during World War II with Company H. 591st Engineer Boat Regiment/2759th Engineer Combat Battalion in North Africa, England, Corsica, Italy, France, and Germany.
He returned from World War II to join his father in the grocery business at the present Schmidt's Grocery in Lone Wolf. They later engaged in farming and ranching.
On December 28, 1949, he married Hazel Winters in Lone Wolf where they have continued to reside.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Lone Wolf.
Survivors include his wife, Hazel, of the home; two daughters, Susan Pike of Altus and Ann and Rodney Wales of Mangum; one son, Don Schmidt of Lone Wolf; five grandchildren, Rod Pike of Dallas, Texas, Amy and Joy Wales of Mangum, Lori and Kaci Schmidt of Sulphur Springs, Texas; and two sisters, Margaret Bush of Hobart and Donna Adams of Lone Wolf.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Ellen Perry; and a brother, Harold Schmidt.

After attending 2 years at OU and then being drafted (#1 Registered in Kiowa Co.) into the Army and serving 4 years (1941-1945) during WWII, he joined his older brother Harold and father Herman in the family grocery and meat market business. Herman retired in 1959 when he had a heart attack. Harold and his wife Charlene sold their half to Clarence and Hazel in 1976, and so became Schmidt's Grocery. The store was kept open by Clarence and Hazel until Clarence was diagnosed with cancer in 1987 and was no longer able to butcher and work in the store. Hazel, with the help of grandson, Rodney Pike, kept the store open. Hazel closed the doors of Schmidt's Grocery in Dec 1992 after 85 years of business. Schmidt's Grocery made the best German sausage in the country. They were well known for their sausage, chili, and meats. For a short time after Clarence's diagnosis while in remission, Clarence and son Don continued to make the German sausage under the name Herman's German.