She was confirmed at Immanuel in 1941 and began playing the piano for worship services at the age of 12.
A child of the Great Depression years, she remembered the drought and grasshoppers that plagued their farm and necessitated frugality and creativity on the part of her father and mother. Her father and mother instilled in her an unfaltering faith in God, the Bible and the power of prayer. Her father encouraged a strong work ethic and an interest in American government, history, and politics. Peggy’s first recollection of a political campaign was the 1936 campaign of Kansas Governor Alf Landon for U.S. president. She remembered the family Model A Ford sported fabric gold and brown sunflowers and she waved sunflower-shaped pinwheels out of the window of the family car as they drove down Highway 34 between Eagle and Lincoln.
As a child she was active in 4-H sewing and beef clubs, winning first prize at the Cass County Fair in 1941 for a winter dress she made. She later wore the dress in the 4-H style review at the Nebraska State Fair.
She taught Sunday School as a teenager, sang solos and sang in groups throughout elementary and high school. Peggy graduated as valedictorian from Eagle High School in 1944 at the age of 16. She graduated from Lincoln School of Commerce later that year and, at age 17, began working at the Nebraska State Legislature in January, 1945 as a committee clerk and secretary. She continued her education by attending Doane College, George Washington University and the University of Nebraska. She worked as a secretary for the Nebraska State Railway Commission from 1945-47 and for the 1947 session of the Nebraska Legislature. In 1947-48 she worked at the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce as assistant to the Jaycee executive secretary.
In 1948, Peggy joined the staff of Congressman Carl T. Curtis in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, DC. She remained in Washington, DC until 1951 when she returned to Lincoln to be nearer to her future husband. She worked for the 1951 session of the Nebraska Legislature serving as secretary to the Speaker and the Lieutenant Governor. On August 26, 1951, she was united in marriage at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Eagle, Nebraska with Reverend Paul R. Schmidt, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Franklin, NE and also Redeemer Lutheran, Bloomington, NE. The following year, they moved to Wood River, NE, where Paul assumed the pastorate of Grace Lutheran, Wood River, and Christ Lutheran, Cairo, NE.
On June 10, 1954, a daughter, Angela Marie was born. The family moved to Indio, California the following year, where Paul became pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church. On January 25, 1956, their son, Martin Paul was born in Indio.
In November, 1958, the family moved to Nebraska City, NE, where Paul became pastor of Christ Lutheran Church. For several years, Peggy worked in quality control at American Meter Company.
In 1964, the family moved to Crete, Nebraska, where Paul became the pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Peggy worked in the development office at Doane College part-time and later at the Crete Medical Clinic as a receptionist and appointment scheduler. In 1973, Paul left the parish ministry after 23 years to enter the hospital chaplaincy ministry. Paul and Peggy moved to Lincoln in 1974 where he became a Lutheran chaplain at Bryan Hospital, the Nebraska Regional Center and the Beatrice State Developmental Center.
Peggy joined the district staff of Congressman Charles Thone in September, 1974 and later served as his Executive Secretary for general operations when he was elected Governor of Nebraska in January, 1979, until 1981 when she resigned because of health issues.
From 1982 to 1984 she worked part-time as a sales associate for Contact Travel in Lincoln and served on the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission. In 1984, Paul accepted a call to be Associate Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church and as Lutheran chaplain for three major hospitals in New Orleans, LA. Peggy worked as a legal and executive secretary for Kelly Services and as administrative secretary at Lafontaine Retirement Community in New Orleans. She served on the LCMS southern district board for social concerns and on the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League district board.
In various churches, Peggy organized and directed children and adult choirs, taught Sunday school, Saturday school and Vacation Bible Schools, serving on LWML local, zone and district boards, played the piano and organ for worship services, sang in choirs and always looked to serve wherever there was a need.
When her mother became seriously ill in 1988 and needed continuous care, Paul and Peggy returned to Lincoln, NE. Peggy assisted Don Stenberg in his campaign for Attorney General of Nebraska from 1989-90 and became his scheduler in the Attorney General’s office from 1990-91.
Taking a break from professional employment, she spent much of 1993 raising funds for the Lincoln Crisis Pregnancy Center, and in December, 1993 she began working in the campaign of Ralph Knobel for Governor and served as his campaign manager until May, 1994. She joined the Don Stenberg campaign in July, 1994 as he campaigned for re-election as Attorney General of Nebraska, serving as his scheduler. She continued assisting him on a part-time basis until March 1995.
Peggy has been active at Christ Lutheran Church, Lincoln, NE, singing with the women’s choir, attending Bible studies, working with the library circle, serving as a prayer partner, and serving as secretary of the Haiti Lutheran Mission Society.
Her interests included following political happenings and participating in conservative Christian causes as well as enjoying aerobics, gardening, reading, computing, decorating, and attending classical music concerts. She has enjoyed participating in the activities of her six grandchildren, dance and piano recitals, basketball, baseball, football and soccer games.
Her family includes: husband, Rev. Paul R. Schmidt (deceased), daughter, Angela M. (Dave) Drevo, Lincoln, NE; son, Martin P. (Laura) Schmidt, Jacksonville, FL; grandchildren Matthew (Mindy) Drevo, Lincoln, Andrew (Jairin) Drevo of Lincoln, Elizabeth (Ryan) Johnson, Tempe, AZ, Erika (Jim) Chester, Leavenworth, KS, Emily (Dylan) Moss, Seattle WA, and Micah (Jordan) Schmidt, Kansas City MO, seventeen great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial Service: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 5, 2022, Christ Lincoln Church, 4325 Sumner Street.
Visitation will be from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Roper and Sons South Lincoln Chapel, 3950 Hohensee Drive.