Michael Ralph Schmidt, 68, lifelong resident of Burlington, Kansas, died early Monday, January 16, 2023, at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka, KS.

Mike was born April 11, 1954, at Emporia, KS, the son of Ralph Amos "Junior" Schmidt, Jr. and Barbara Jean (Bennett) Schmidt.

Mike graduated from Burlington High School in 1972. After his father's death in 1981, he took over the operations of the family's heavy construction company, Schmidt Excavating. Mike was well known as a skilled cat skinner and blade operator. He had a knack of just being able to look at a piece of ground and knew exactly what needed to be done. Aside from the enjoyment he received from his business, he also enjoyed spending time with his family and in various local coffee shops and restaurants over the years where he made numerous friends and enjoyed the conversations. He was known for his friendly demeanor, mischievous sense of humor, and full body laugh.

On June 7, 1986, he and Debby Duana Gifford were married at Burlington. They made their home on the southwest edge of Burlington where they raised their two daughters, Megan and Kayla, and his son, James.

He suffered the loss of his daughter, Pamela Fay Schmidt, in 1994. He was also preceded by his parents, Ralph "Junior" Schmidt and Barbara Schmidt Ross.

He leaves his wife, Debby; his son, James Schmidt, Burlington; his daughters, Megan Schmidt, Leawood, KS, and Kayla Schmidt, Manhattan, KS; a grandchild, Keaton Schmidt; his brother, Terry Schmidt (LaDonna), Olathe, KS; nieces and nephews, Tracy Franklin (Cassi), Portland, OR, Lauren Brown, Olathe, KS, and Cory Brown, Olathe, KS; other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services will be held 1:30 P.M. Saturday, January 21, 2023, at Jones Funeral Home in Burlington. Burial will follow in Graceland Cemetery at Burlington.

The family will meet with friends from 6:30 to 8:00 P.M. Friday, January 20, at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation and may be sent in care of Jones Funeral Home, PO Box 277, Burlington, KS 66839.