Steven Schimonitz was born on March 27, 1929 at Sutherland Nebraska. He was the second of six children born to Stephen and Martha Mary Ecker Schimonitz. He grew up on the family farm south of Paxton and attended rural elementary school at District #16.

Steve attended high school at North Platte St. Patrick and graduated in 1947. He returned to the farm until 1951 when he joined the United States Army during the Korean War. He was stationed in Germany and served with the Army Medical Corps until his discharge in 1953.

Steve was married to Grace Zwiener of Spalding at the Paxton St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on April 4, 1959. The family moved to a farm north of Elsie in 1974 where Steve lived the rest of his life. He had been dealing with heart problems for the past few years and died at home on Sunday night, August 2, 2009 at the age of 80. He had enjoyed the weekend visiting many family members at the annual Schimonitz family reunion at Lake McConaughy.

Steve spent his life farming and driving a truck for several different companies. He was a lifetime member of St. Patrick’s Church and joined the Elsie American Legion Post #206 in 1955. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping and appreciated taking his grandchildren on many of these activities.

In addition to his parents, one sister, Betty Porter preceded Steve in death. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Grace; 4 sons- Douglas of Grant, Bernard (Sara) of rural Elsie, Edward of Ogallala, and David (Lisa) of Paxton; 8 grandchildren-Danielle, Garrett, Tyler, Cade, Remington, Joe, Brookelyn, and Mason Schimonitz; 2 sisters-Mary (Charlie) Bierma of Omaha and Barbara Jean (Jack) Swantkoski of Phillips Nebraska; 2 brothers- Kenneth of Sutherland and Louis (Francis) of North Platte; many other relatives and friends.

Rosary will be recited on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at Paxton St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, August 7 at 10:00 a.m. at St Patrick’s Church with Father Bryan Ernest, officiating. Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. at the Ft. McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell.

Bullock-Long Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.