Herman Otto Schmidt was born on May 11, 1929, in Seward to Cajus and Emma (Tiemann) Schmidt and passed away on December 15, 2018, in Seward at the age of 89 years, 7 months and 4 days. Herman was baptized on June 9, 1929 and confirmed on March 25, 1945, both at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward.

Little Herman was mom's helper. He would help with dishes, washing and hanging clothes on the line outside, but his job in the summer was to keep an eye on the chickens that roamed the yard. If one would stray onto the road and was hit by a car he would bring it to his mom right away, so she could prepare it for a meal. When Herman was a young man he was Cajus helper in the feeding and watering of their farm animals. Herman loved farming, the smell of tilled ground in the spring, the sprouts of the little plants and the different seasons as they grew until harvest. He also raised cattle for market. His love of music came early and his button accordion music was very relaxing to him. He played at many different events and places for many people. Throughout his life he helped many different people with a variety of jobs. Herman could also read the different clouds in the sky especially the rain clouds. On March 29, 1968, Herman married Bernadine Novak at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Seward.

Thank you to the many people for all of the prayers. Thanks to the many wonderful caring people at Tabitha Home Health, Home Instead, Tabitha Hospice and Pastor Mark Haefner for your many visits and for the visits from family and friends. Thanks to Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church for all of your help today and to the Ladies Aid for the lunch. There are so many people who did things over the last years of Herman's life that I would be afraid I left someone out, so to all of you Bernardine says, "Thank you and God bless you."

Herman was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Robert; nephew, David Schmidt; brother-in-law, Kent Kettenburg.

Survivors include his wife, Bernardine Schmidt; brother, Norman Schmidt, Asheville, NC; two nephews, Ted (Julie) Schmidt, Ypsilanti, MI, Robert (Evie) Schmidt, Rolling Hills Estate, CA; two nieces, Carol Ann (Donald) Brown, Asheville, NC and Janet (Jay) Walton, Fletcher, NC; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Richard and Vickie Novak, Seward, Bernard and Marilyn Novak, Seward, Bernice Kettenburg, Seward, niece, Darcy Schmidt, Hoffman Estates, IL; many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of life shared with Herman.