Dan C. Schmidt – 51, passed away on March 10, 2020, at the University of Kansas Medical Center surrounded by family. He was born to Donald D. Schmidt and Nellie Ann (Mininger) Schmidt July 25, 1968, at Susan B. Allen Hospital in El Dorado, KS. He was the fourth of five children. He married Maria Cristina Garcia on April 22, 1995, in Mexico City. Following his marriage in Mexico City to Cristy, he discovered his new wife could not re-enter the United States and embarked on a crusade to secure citizenship for his bride. They were then blessed with one daughter, Alexee Ann Schmidt, 17. He is survived by his wife, Cristy; his daughter, Alexee; siblings: Tom Schmidt (Susie) of Eudora; Barbara Unruh of Newton, Tim Schmidt (Deb) of Lenexa; Jerry Schmidt (Sue) of Shawnee; and mother Nellie Schmidt of Lenexa.
He was preceded in death by father Don Schmidt; grandparents Clayton Mininger and wife Edna; Dan D. Schmidt and wife Lizzie; nephew Ethan Schmidt.
He attended Peabody (KS) schools graduating high school in the class of 1986. He received his B.S.E degree from Emporia State University in 1992, in Theatre/English/Speech. He received his M.F.A. from the University of Idaho in 2019. He began his teaching career at Newton High School in 1992 through 1997. He then moved on to Blue Valley High School in Overland Park, KS from 1997 through 2010. Finally moving to Blue Valley Southwest High School in Overland Park, KS from 2010-present. Dan was a gifted theater director and much-loved by his students and peers. His productions received many awards at the state and national levels and many of his students went on to continue their thespian careers in college and beyond. He often took groups of students to New York to experience the theater on Broadway. He devoted many summers himself to community theater productions and continuing to master not only his craft but expanding the knowledge of theater productions to many students. He worked tirelessly to present the best quality theater at the secondary level in the country and he was proud of the accolades he and his students received.
Dan was a devoted father and husband and was proud of his family.
As a child, he had an extraordinary imagination and even at a young age created his own costumes (Captain America). At a young age, he found the arts – band, plays, theater – and it would eventually become his passion. He loved attending his daughter’s sporting events, following KU sports, Dungeons and Dragons, reading, Shakespeare, Bruce Springsteen, Star Wars, X-Files and playing cards with his extended family. Dan never met someone he couldn’t talk with and had a knack for bringing people together from all facets of life. Dan was able to share his passion and encourage his students to follow their dreams and to never stop believing in themselves.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am at United Methodist Church of the Resurrection 13720 Roe Ave., Leawood, KS 66224 Sat. March 14, 2020. Reception to follow 12:00pm- 2:00pm. The sanctuary is Building A on the west side of the campus. Parking is south and west of the campus. A private burial will follow the reception.
Additional information is that that the service will live-streamed and will begin at 11:00 am cst The url is https://events.blogs.cor.org/memorialsonline
A Celebration of Life is planned for a later date and will be posted through social media.
An educational fund has been established for Alexee. Checks or cash can be sent to Capitol Federal, 15700 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Shawnee, KS 66217. Checks should be payable to Capitol Federal with 0437 in the memo; if cash is donated please include a note indicating the donation is for 0437. In addition, the donation can be made through a Go Fund Me Account at this address https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-family-of-dan-schmidt
See you later dan. I’ll just have to miss you until then 🙂
There will never be another Dan Schmidt on planet earth. He was passionate and intentional in his profession and truly loved the students he taught and mentored. I asked him once, as talented as he was, why he wasn’t producing collegiate drama or beyond. His reply was simple – he loved working with high school age students in order to develop them and prepare them for the next step in their lives.
It showed.
Dan will be missed and has left a gaping hole in our hearts. Our thoughts and prayers are with Cristy, Alexee and all of Dan’s family.
I’m devastated at this news. How many times we talked about catching up for real one day.
I had Mr. Schmidt for Philosophy in high school and he was the first teacher to inspire me to pursue a career in law. We truly did not deserve a teacher that passionate about helping students or who was that excited to see students grow, and the world would be better if there were more people like Dan Schmidt.
Never met you,but what an amazing and well respected teacher. God bless his family, friends and former students. He will be missed.
I met Dan in a round about way through mural students on Facebook. It was then I found out we were both ESU alums and what an amazing passion we shared for theatre education. I have enjoyed our conversations for the past several years via social media. We had made plans to meet up several times but it wasn’t until this past Jan that we were finally able to meet in person.
Dan was such an inspiration to me as a newer theatre teacher, I looked up to him, asked his advice, etc.
we just talked the other day about the fact that we were both planning to produce the same play next fall, and were planning to get our troupes together.
I am devastated by this sudden loss of a wonderful human, mentor and friend.
I will miss him so very much.
Thank you for being such a wonderful friend to our daughter. Words can not describe what you did for her. You will be sorely missed. Deepest condolences.
Rip Dan , you will be missed very much
It’s was great to know you Dan, you stood strong as a leader during some tough times we endured at newton high in theater, rest easy…we will take it from here
The course of my life was changed the day I met you. My life has been better, richer, more creative, and full of beauty due to the way you taught me. The impact of Dan Schmidt on the world is like ripples on water that just keep going and going. Your work was important and we will all continue to carry on your legacy. Love to Christy and Alexee in this difficult time.
I was so lucky to have you as a teacher, mentor, and friend. Rest well.
Wish I could leave something funny here since you ALWAYS made me laugh. Too soon Dan. Way too soon.
I had the great pleasure to grow up with Dan, and be involved with him in band, summer recreation, etc. He was always a great guy and a class act. I was able to reconnect with him through Kansas Thespian activities, and enjoyed seeing him each year. He was a great educator and person, and will be missed. My families thoughts and prayers are with all of Dan’s family.
I am so terribly sorry to hear this and so sad for Christy and Alexee.
My heart is so saddened by this news, and my thoughts and prayers are with his family. I was blessed to have Dan as a teacher at Newton High, reconnect when I began my teaching career in Blue valley, then watch as he touched the lives of so many of my former students. He was the best of the best and will be so very missed.
Dan changed the trajectory of my entire family. He Introduced me to a whole new world I didn’t know or appreciate. He mentored and pushed and challenged my 2 sons who went through his program. Dan was a lot of things to a lot of people, but most importantly to me i was blessed to call him my friend. I will miss him terribly.
I found a quote that I feel represents how Dan lived his life:
“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.” —Shannon Adler
We should all work to leave such an enduring legacy. Bravo Dan to full life that was lived well!
I went to high school with Dan. He was a truly genuine great guy. He will be missed. Godspeed friend.
Mr. Schmidt was my Philosophy teacher back in highschool. He was one of the few teachers that taught me to learn for fun, not the grade. His passion and love for teaching was transient through his lectures and I just loved listening to him and learn more about my self and the world. I am sure I wasn’t the only student that was touched by him. Thank you for all your work and rear in peace.
Wow, I am thrown off by finding out this news this evening. Mr. Schmidt was an inspiration to me. I met him my freshman year at BVSW and we remained friends ever since. He saw something in me and always welcomed me with open arms when I would come in and out of his classroom. His passion for what he did and who he got to work with made me want to keep coming back. His desire to build bridges between people with different backgrounds and desires was life changing. I’ll never forget being a part of BvSw’s first ever sold out show. I’m so thankful for Dan’s presence and friendship. I’ll never forget you. Rest In Peace.
thank you for everything schmidtty, you’ve changed my life for the better. i know when we meet again you’ll throw ur shoes at me for crying this much. this world won’t be the same without you and your talent. i wish i could have learned from you longer, rest easy
Dan was on my Facebook page. I never met him personally but I know him through his love of theatre and wanting to give that love to all his students. RIP Dan and may you “exit, stage left” with grace.
Christy, words cannot describe how sad and shocked I am. Reading all the wonderful words written about Dan, highlights what a tremendous loss for not only you and Lexie but for so many in the Blue Valley community. My heart, thoughts, prayers are with you, dear sweet friend.
I am so saddened by this news and my love and thoughts go to Dan’s family and friends. Dan was my theater director at Newton High School many years ago. He was a wonderful teacher and I will always remember him fondly.
Rest in peace sir.
You will be missed my friend…
I only knew of Dan through his wife, Christy who shared with all of us struggling adult Spanish students at La Causerie. Thinking of you and your daughter and so sorry to hear of this terrible loss.
We are heartbroken. The world will not be a better place without him. He taught our daughter Alisa at blue Valley high school in the late 1990s. He was her favorite teacher. He will be missed sorely. We remember with great pleasure a trip we took with him and the blue Valley singing group to New York City. I got to know him as a person as well as a wonderful teacher. He made thetrip even more interesting and pleasant.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.
Christine and Craig Stevenson
La Jolla CA
I grew up with Dan in Peabody. He and I were in a graduating class of just 19 students in 1986. We all had our struggles in middle school and high school, but we learned to support each other and get through the tough times while also managing to have some really fun times! I will always remember Dan’s passion for theatre, his intense emotions and opinions, his empathy, and his sense of humor. We connected a few years ago on Facebook and I am so glad we did. I loved hearing about what he was doing and how much he loved his family. Was hoping to connect again in person and am very sad we can’t. My heart goes out to all of those he touched, especially his family. ???
Dan and I went to high school together. Our biggest connection was we both played trumpet in the band. I remember spending the night at his house several times. He used to stop by my parents house even after I left for college. When he first became a teacher, he told me he couldn’t wait to see Mr. Marshall (our band director and also an amazing trumpet player) so he could call him Bob now that they were peers. I got to meet Dan’s family very briefly traveling back home from a visit to Peabody. I remember waking him up early in the morning, he wasn’t expecting me so early. He and his family were up when we got there and he met me kids and I met his wife and daughter. That was over 10 years ago, the last time I saw Dan. I was truly amazed at how amazing he had become as a theater director, a long journey from his parts in Peabody High School musicals. His students will sorely miss him. Dan was definitely one of a kind, and will be missed by everyone who knew him.
I’m so very sad to learn of this news. Mr. Schmidt was an amazing theater teacher and my daughter Amanda just loved him. Prayers for his family.