Sanford Schmid

Sanford Quest Schmid, age 98, of La Grange, formerly of the Shelby, Texas area, passed away Tuesday, February 13, 2018.

Sanford was born in the Schoeneau Area of Austin County on November 20, 1919, the son of Rudolph and Annie Dockel Schmid.  He was the grandson of John and Emily White Schmid and John Dockel and Emilie Mertz.

Sanford attended grade school at Skull Creek and then at Rock House.  He graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1937.  He was the last surviving member of that class.  At the Baccalaureate Service, the Fayetteville City Choir sang “The Old Rugged Cross.”  The words taken from these two lines - “So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies, at last, I lay down” continued to be an inspiration to him throughout his life.

Sanford married Madeline Schweke December 29, 1940 in New Ulm.  Two daughters, Carolyn Lea Bruening and Sandra Ann Aschenbeck, both from Shelby, were born to them.

He was a store proprietor in Austin/Washington Counties for many years.  As a farmer, he had a chicken raising operation, was an apiarist (beekeeper) since the age of fourteen until his death.  In the fall of 1938, Sanford enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corps and was employed at Buchanan Dam, North of Austin.  The salary that he received was one dollar a day ($180 for the six months.)  These funds were the first monies that he invested.  He served as State Representative in 1958-59 under Governor Price Daniel.   On January 3, 1945, at the age of 25, Sanford was drafted into the Second World War.  His service was in the Navy as a Storekeeper.  He received his discharge, as a Seaman First Class, on April 5, 1946, at Jacksonville, Florida.

In the 1950’s he was instrumental in starting the Shelby Volunteer Fire Department.  He was a Second Grand Vice-President for the Grand Lodge Order of the Sons of Hermann.  He supported Harmonie Hall in Shelby and was the last surviving member of the Helvetia Menachor, a German Singing Group.  He was a member of the American Legion Post 602 of Shelby.  Sanford donated Daus Haus, the Witte Family, to the Texas German Society.  His family heritage and his legacy was his life.

He delivered many “Meals on Wheels” in his lifetime (20 plus years).  He began this service in Austin County but also continued this in Gillespie and Fayette County until 3 years ago.  At the age of 95, Sanford was still delivering meals to the clients three days a week.

Sanford married Mannie Fritsch on February 2, 2002.

In recent years, besides being an apiarist, he served the community as a philanthropist.  The financial assistance/gifts that he provided for college tuitions to deserving students, Second Chance Emporium, the Area Livestock Shows, Arts of Rural Texas, The Blinn College Foundation, and many more projects helped to show his desire to serve the area communities by giving back to the communities.

Sanford is survived by his wife, Mannie Frisch-Schmid of La Grange;  two daughters, Carolyn Lea Schmid-Bruening of Shelby, Sandra Ann Schmid-Aschenbeck and husband, Nelson of Shelby;  Grandchildren Joan Brune and husband, Elbert of New Ulm, Wanda Meier and husband, Keith of Brenham, Ryan Aschenbeck of Shelby, and Sarah Bertsch and husband, Kevin of Fayetteville;  Great-Grandchildren, Father Philip Brune, Kaylyn Brune, Kyle Brune, Megan Meier, Mitchell Meier, Ashley Bruening, Hannah Elizabeth Bertsch, Reid Aschenbeck, Mia Aschenbeck, and Zane Aschenbeck;  as well as stepchildren Norris Wied, Norman Wied, and Shirley Fritsch;  and step-granddaughter’s Elise Wied and Erin Wied.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brother John, son-in-law, Aurel Bruening, and grandson, Roger Bruening.