Teresa Jean Schmidt, 82, passed away Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at Showalter Villa, Hesston. She was born February 25, 1944, in Clinton, Oklahoma, the daughter of John and Elsie Krewall Penner. It was at the Herald Mennonite Church in rural Oklahoma that she was baptized. She was a 1962 graduate of Clinton High School and went on to get her BSN in Nursing from Bethel College in 1965.

She married Arlo Schmidt on October 24, 1965.

It was after that that she and Arlo moved to Southern California to live across the street from some of her siblings. Teresa worked as a nurse at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital. Even though none of them had much money at the time, they always found ways to have a good time. They gathered at Teresa and Arlo’s apartment and celebrated birthdays, played cards, and shared many meals together. Teresa always made sure there was plenty of food on the table.

In 1971, Arlo and Teresa moved back to the Inman/Buhler area to start their family. Teresa also worked at various hospitals and nursing homes, including Halstead Hospital. In the late 80’s/early 90’s Teresa also went back to school at Sidney’s Hairdressing School. She then opened a salon in her basement. She was also very good at helping Arlo with the farm and providing everyone with food.

Teresa was never afraid of hard work. When it was time to help her parents with harvest, she could drive the truck, so the rest of the siblings were happy to ride along with her! Years later, when the family came to help Arlo with the corn and wheat harvest, Teresa always made sure there was food on the table.

She loved spending time in the kitchen and was always making sure everyone had plenty to eat. Whether she was cooking for family, making pies and cookies, helping at the Soup Kitchen, helping at Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church, where she was a longtime member, or feeding everyone during harvest, taking care of others was part of who she was.

While we think of Teresa as a hard worker, kind and caring sister, mother, and good friend, her biggest joy and most precious job in life, was that of a grammy. She absolutely loved spending time with her grandkids. Some of her greatest joy came from time spent hosting “Grammy Camp” in the summer and attending all the grandkids’ activities, from band concerts to vocal concerts, sporting events, you name it, she was there!

Teresa is survived by her husband, Arlo; son, Darren and wife Heather Schmidt, Inman; grandchildren, Chloe Schmidt and Dylan Schmidt, Hannah Schrag and Larissa Schrag and their father, David Schrag, Liberty, MO, and Noah Eichelberger and Kate Eichelberger, and their father, Lynn Eichelberger, Moundridge; her sister, Lori Maddox, Montgomery, TX; and two brothers, Stan Penner, Livingston, TX and Jim (Linda) Penner, Edmond, OK.

She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant daughter, Denise Schmidt; and two more daughters, Janelle Schrag and Lorie Eichelberger.

Private Graveside services will be held. A celebration of life service will be held at 1:00 PM Friday, September 25, 2026, at Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church, Inman. Memorial contributions may be made to Hoffnunsau Mennonite Church, Schowalter Villa, or Harry Hynes Hospice, all in care of Inman Funeral Home, PO Box 490, Inman, KS 67546. To leave a condolence for the family, visit: www.inmanfh.com.