Paul Martin Schmidt passed away peacefully at Adventist Medical Center of Portland, Oregon, on March 26, 2018 with loving family by his side.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Gertrude Hallerberg Schmidt in 1983, Walter Henry Martin Schmidt in 1984, and brother Walter Karl Schmidt in 2001.

Paul is survived by his wife Ernestine “Teeny” Schmidt, brother Robert Schmidt, and sister Barbara Johnson; Children David (Thuy) Schmidt; Joel (Daphne) Schmidt; Ann (Ben) Hittle, Daniel Schmidt;  Grandchildren Corrine and Rachel Schmidt, Conor (Allysa), Riley and Casey O’Brien; Nathaniel Pemberton (Sara Hughes) and great-grandchild Xylahn Pemberton, Lily and Zander.

Paul was baptized in 1930 at Tinley Park, IL; Confirmed in 1943 at Marengo, IL; and married to Ernestine “Teeny” M. Huber on July 6, 1957 in Vernon TX.

Here is Paul’s story, in his very own words:

“My first parish out of the seminary (1955) was Our Savior Lutheran Church in Bingen, WA.  While I was there we built a small church building with volunteer labor.  It was quite a struggle with a lot of inter-congregational conflict, but the task was completed in 1958.  The result was a lovely little building in a marvelous setting on a mountainside that continues to serve this Columbia Gorge community.

I came to Bingen as a bachelor, but after a courtship by mail, Teeny Huber and I were married on July 6^th, 1957 in Vernon, TX.  Our first son, David was born a little over 9 months later. In 1959 I took a call to Hope Lutheran Church in Greenacres, WA, a suburb of Spokane.  While we lived there our son, Joel and daughter, Ann were born.  In 1963 I began to use The Bethel Series, which became a useful tool in all the parishes I served.  While in Greenacres Teeny and I began a lifelong friendship with David and Joy Belasic.

In 1965 I took what I thought was a special call to the mission field at Christ Lutheran Church in Salt Lake City, UT.  What a surprise to find that Mormons were people just like everyone else.  Our youngest son, Dan was born in UT.

After 4 ½ years I decided to return to Spokane and Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church.  This turned out to be like a marriage made in heaven.  I stayed 16 years.  Like other marriages made in heaven, there were ups and downs, but by and large it was a pleasant time.  During this time Dave Belasic and I wrote THE PENGUIN PRINCIPLES, a tongue-in-cheek book about the ministry.

After a number of years serving on Northwest District Boards etc. I was called in 1986 to be Mission Executive of the District.  For this position we moved to Portland, OR. Teeny retired in 1995 from many years of teaching Kindergarten and pre-school.  I retired then too, and began some of the most pleasant and interesting work of my ministry.”

Paul M. Schmidt

After his retirement Paul served 10 parishes as an interim pastor. The last five churches he served were classified as “Intentional Interim Ministries” and Paul became director of the intentional interim program for the District.  He completed his 10^th interim at Christ the Vine Lutheran Church in Damascus, OR, where Teeny started the pre-school in 1986.

For the last four years, Paul has lived at the Willamette View Retirement Community in Portland, Oregon. His wife Teeny still resides at Monterey Court Memory Care in Happy Valley, Oregon.

The Memorial Service will be held Saturday April 28,2018 at 11:00AM at Trinity Lutheran Church – 16000 S Henrici Rd, Oregon City OR 97045, followed by a lunch reception.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Trinity Lutheran Church, 16000 S Henrici Rd, Oregon City OR 97045.