Bruce Schmidt was chosen king of the 49th annual Swedish Festival on Friday night, June 15, 2001, by the past kings and queens, better know as the Swedish Royalty. The following is a commentary written by his two daughters, Jessica and Tara Schmidt Bruce was born and raised in the Platte Center, Nebraska area. He and twin brother Brian were the youngest of 10 children born to Otto and Loretta Schmidt. His younger years were spent on a farm with his family. He graduated from Humphrey High School and attended Platte Community College while continuing to farm. Bruce then began working on the crew at Goering Construction in Platte Center. While at Goering he was able to work his way up to Foreman and then to Manager and still farm on the side. Bruce met Diane Gronenthal one summer day at one of his softball games and was lucky enough to marry her and become a proud dad of two girls Jessica and Tara. Approximately 17 years ago, Bruce decided to venture out on his own and sought to purchase his own lumber business. In his travels he and brother Brian happened upon Stromsburg where they met Stanton and Orpha Moore and Paul and Mary Ann Moore. It was then that they decided to purchase Moore Lumber. The name Twin Lumber was given for the joint venture of the twin brothers. It wasn't long after that first meeting that Bruce and family moved to Stromsburg to make it their new home. In later years Bruce and wife Diane became sole owners of Twin Lumber. Over the years Bruce has remodeled and built homes some his own (5 in Stromsburg to be exact) and some his friends and neighbors. He has served as Stromsburg's Chamber President and chairperson of the Swedish Festival, been a member of the Midwest Covenant Home board and served as president and is part of Stromsburg's Planning Commission. He is a member of the Independent Lumberman's Association and in 1998 received their President's Choice Award for service to the community through Habitat for Humanity. Bruce is a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in York, Nebraska. He has been a church lector and served as President of the church council. Approximately 11 years ago when I was a sophomore in high school he became involved with the Covenant Youth Group's service trips to Chicago. His first trip was through Habitat for Humanity, and that has formed a continued bond for him here in Nebraska. In the years that followed the trips involved summer bible schools, witnessing and feeding the homeless as well as him being mister fix-it at the various churches we worked with. He gave spiritual guidance and strength to all of us. He has since begun an active role in the founding and success of Stromsburg's Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Chapter. He is dedicated to the young people of this community and his strength in FCA for the past 7 years has led to my sister's own success at the University of Nebraska Lincoln as she will be an FCA leader next year. Bruce has continued his service to Habitat for Humanity and each year builds walls for homes along with the FCA youth. Along with being involved in our spiritual lives, he was also involved in our athletic one. He coached jr. high basketball and he successfully coached the 18-under girl's softball team to a State Runner-Up Trophy in 1993 and led the Stromsburg girls to winning seasons and numerous conference and tournament trophies. His dedication to the Stromsburg community has spanned almost 2 decades. He has donated time and energy to all good causes including the festival. We can remember picking up cement blocks Saturday morning at 5 AM and being rewarded with Swedish pancakes or Sundays picking up the very wood that you all are sitting on to insure that it wouldn't warp if it rained. Bruce has raised two daughters and a dog (I'm sure you all know Bailey) Jessica is a fundraiser/grant writer for the LISTEN Foundation, a non-profit organization in Denver and Tara will be a Senior at UNL this fall working toward a degree in Speech Language Pathology. When we think about our dad, we know that he has taught us patient. He has taught us what marriage is and the keys to its success having been married for 27 happy years. Most importantly he has taught us the importance of God in our life. How to put our trust in God and be patient for the answer. To know our dad is to know a man of humility and few words. Someone who doesn't ask for recognition when it is deserved. Someone who would give the shirt off his back for a friend or stranger in need. We've been told that in life you pick your heroes from the people you know and if we were to pick ours, Dad your it. Your strength, your understanding, your faith are an inspiration to us and all those who know you well. We Love you!!

Brought to you by The City of Stromsburg and the Stromsburg Chamber of Commerce

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