Agnes "Babe" Zortz Schmidt, age 74 of Columbus, KS passed away Sunday April 16, 2006 at the Medicalodge of Columbus after an illness.

Born January 21, 1932 at Pittsburg, KS, the daughter of Joseph and Ursula (Turlip) Zortz. She grew up and attended schools in the area. She graduated from Mt Carmel School of Nursing in 1953 as a Registered Nurse. She worked for Mt. Carmel Medical Center in Pittsburg, KS as a supervisor for four years and then Wodsworth V.A. Hospital in Leavenworth, KS. She was of Catholic Faith.

Memberships include St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church of Columbus, KS, the Alter Society, and Columbus Country Club all from 1959 til the present, cooking leader for several years in the Cherokee County 4-H clubs, Kansas State Nurses Association and a member of the Women's Golf Association. She also taught Catholic Religion Classes for thirteen years.

She married Paul Schmidt October 24, 1959 at Frontenac, KS. He survives of the home.

Additional survivors include three children, Mary Kay Wagner and husband Lowell of Offerle, KS, Teresa Kloer and husband Kevin of Columbus, KS and John Schmidt and wife Anne of Seattle, WA. Six grandchildren: Shaun Kloer and wife Lindsay of Wichita, KS; Derek Kloer of Columbus, KS; Julie Kloer of Columbus, KS; John Paul Wagner of Offerle, KS; Laurin Wagner of Offerle, KS; and Benjamin Schmidt of Seattle, WA; 3 sisters: Madge LaForte of Raytown, MO, Teresa Nonbella of Frontenac, KS and Margaret Villamaria of Pittsburg, KS and several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by three brothers: John, Joseph "Coke" and Frank and 5 sisters: Ursula McSapadden, Anne Scavezze, Mary Rudman, Judy Baima and Lena Cox

Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Thursday April 20, 2006 at the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Columbus, KS, with the Father Chrysostom Ah Maung. Rosary will be recited 7:30 p.m. Wednesday April 19, 2006 at the Simpson Funeral Home in Columbus, KS. Burial will be at the Park Cemetery, Columbus, KS. The family suggest memorials to the St Rose Catholic Church, or the Columbus Community Foundation. These may be sent or left to the Simpson Funeral Home 323 S. Kansas Ave., Columbus, KS.