Kenneth Francis Schimonitz, age 82, of Paxton, Nebraska died Sunday, July 5, 2020, at the North Platte Care Center.
Ken was born at Sutherland, Nebraska to Stephen and Martha Schimonitz on January 18, 1938. He grew up on the family farm, south of Paxton, and graduated from Paxton High School in 1956. Ken began farming with his father and brother, Louis, and continued farming all his life. The only time he was away from the farm was when he served in the U.S. Army from 1958 until his honorable discharge in 1960.
Ken retired in 2009 but continued living on the farm until 2017 when he moved into the retirement home. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed fishing and hunting ducks and deer. In his free time, Ken liked going to the casinos.
He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and American Legion, both in Paxton, the Elk’s Club and Eagles Aires #2839.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Stephen and Martha; sister, Betty and husband, John Porter; brother, Steven; and brother-in-law, Charles Bierma.
Survivors include Ken’s brother, Louis (Frances) Schimonitz, of North Platte, Nebraska; sisters, Mary Bierma, of Omaha, Nebraska and Barbara (Jack) Swantkoski, of Phillips, Nebraska; sister-in-law, Grace Schimonitz, of Elsie, Nebraska; as well as many other family members.
Services will be held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Paxton on Friday, July 10, 2020. Rosary will begin at 9:30 a.m. (MT) followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. with Celebrant Father Bryan Ernest. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell, Nebraska at 1 p.m. Central Time. Visitation will be prior to the services at the church. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore in North Platte is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the Goodfellow Shoe Fund.