Delmar Schmidt

Delmar J. “D.J.” Schmidt, 75, of Topeka, died June 13, 2007 at his son’s home in Overland Park, Kansas.

Delmar was born on July 14, 1931 in Hays, Kansas the son of Jerome Fidelis and Dorothy (Karlin) Schmidt.  He graduated from Holy Name Grade School and was a 1948 graduate of Hayden High School.  Mr. Schmidt also attended Washburn University.

He retired in 1994 from the Topeka Capital Journal where he was a staff photographer and manager of the photo lab.  Delmar was known for his photography of the Topeka Tornado coverage in 1966 that was published in Time and Life magazines.  He had previously worked as a photographer for Curtis Studio in Garden City, Kansas and for Barton Photography in Topeka.

Delmar will be remembered as a devout catholic having been a member of Mater Dei’s Parish Holy Name Catholic Church.  He enjoyed crossword puzzles, brain teasers, scrabble, and was a good story teller.  Mr. Schmidt also enjoyed family history and spending time with his family.

He married Genevieve Christian, and later divorced.  He is survived by four sons, Richard Schmidt of Topeka, Kansas; Stephen Schmidt and wife Zsuzsanna of Silver Spring, Maryland; William Schmidt and wife Janet of Overland Park, Kansas; Michael Schmidt and wife Deborah of Eudora, Kansas; a daughter Karen Schmidt of Charlottesville, Virginia; five grandchildren, Brian McCollam, Philip Schmidt, Christopher McCollam, Stephanie Schmidt and Timothy Schmidt.  He was preceded in death by a brother, Gerald Fidelis Schmidt in 1998.

Mr. Schmidt will lie in state at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home on Sunday after 2:00 p.m. where a Parish Rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 10:00 a.m. at Mater Dei’s Parish Holy Name Catholic Church.  Interment will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Name Catholic Church, The Epilepsy Foundation, or the Asthma and Allergy Foundation sent in care of the funeral home.