Schmidt, Karin M. Karin Schmidt of Eden Prairie, age 84, passed away December 28th. Born in Königsberg, Germany, she and her family fled their home with the Russian invasion of East Prussia. Taking the last train out, they endured hunger, plane attacks, and the fear that they would become separated from one another. Arriving in Saxony, they were met by Russian troops who put her family, a mother and five children, into a camp for German refugees. In the camp, often short of food, Karin made up games to play with the smaller children. After over a year in the camp Karin and her family were sent to the British zone of occupation. Slowly recovering her health, Karin helped her mother take care of her four brothers in the difficult conditions of Frankfurt after the war. With the help of American sponsors, the family immigrated to Germantown, Wisconsin. After completing her high school education, Karin moved to Milwaukee where she worked, began college, and met her future husband, Bob, who was studying for the ministry. Married in 1959 and soon to be blessed with their firstborn, Marian, they received a call to become missionaries in Nigeria, W. Africa. With a three-month-old child, they arrived in Nigeria on the eve of the country's independence in 1960. While adjusting to the challenges of a new climate and culture, she was always helpful in providing food and bandages to all who needed them. Shortly after the birth of their second child, Michael, they headed home for a furlough. After a brief return to Nigeria, the family was forced to come home for health reasons. As the wife of a campus pastor at Colorado State University and later at the University of Washington, Karin was quick to help with repairing a wedding dress, stitching up a student's coat, and being the chef of last resort for after-church refreshments and communal dinners. Karin helped make ends meet at home by sewing, gardening, cooking, and preserving. Despite all these activities, she was able to foster her children's creativity and interest in science, art, and the German language. As her children became independent, she went back to school to become a floral designer. After many years of being a skilled and dependable asset to the florists who employed her, she continued to use this talent after retirement to arrange flowers for church occasions and for people who needed some cheering up. Karin joined her love of flowers with the art of scherenschnitt (scissors cuttings) which she learned as a child in Germany. With a steady hand and surgeon's scissors she created intricate black-and-white pictures of plants and flowers, wild and rural landscapes, and Christmas scenes. The latter were sent out as original Christmas cards for more than thirty years. For Easter she painted eggs with pointed brush, sent some to friends, and made Easter decorations of these painted eggs hanging from branches. Karin is survived by her husband of 61 years, Bob; children, Marian Kratzke (Bob) and Michael Schmidt; granddaughter, Andrea Kratzke Nelson (Leif); two brothers, Bob and Frank Seidenberg; numerous nieces, nephews and friends. She will be most dearly missed by all who knew her. The memorial service will be streamed from Cross View Lutheran Church in Edina on Thursday, Jan. 14th at 3 pm. Memorials can be sent to POBLO Bloomington, (3601 W Old Shakopee Rd, Bloomington, MN 55431); or poblo.org/minnesota-poblo-mission/) to aid newly arrived refugees and immigrants.

Published on January 10, 2021