Cooper Schmidt

Cooper Henry Thomas Schmidt, age 20, of Moran, Kan., passed away April 19, 2026, following injuries sustained in a car accident.

Cooper was born Dec. 20, 2005.

He worked for Colt Energy and had previously spent six years with Roadrunners in Chanute. A self-taught mechanic, he had a natural ability to figure things out and was the person people trusted when they needed something fixed. No matter what he had going on, he would drop everything to help — because that’s just who he was. He had a quiet strength, a giving spirit, and a deep loyalty to the people he loved. His life, though far too short, was full of meaning and connection, and his impact will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

Cooper was preceded in death by his uncle, Jimmy Schmidt; “bonus” grandpa, Joe Lilly; niece, Paisley Travis, and his best four-legged friend, Ollie.

Survivors include the love of his life, Grace Lilly; parents, John and Korenne Schmidt of Iola and Hannah Trester of Elsmore; siblings, Riley Schmidt (Cedric), Humboldt, Emma Schmidt (Quinton), Moran, Kailey Wolken (Trustin), Humboldt, Shelby Daniels (Tyler), Yates Center, Truman Grzybowski and Hudson Schmidt, Iola, Addyson Trester and Rorrick Trester, Moran; grandparents Galen and DeeAnn Daniels, Humboldt, Joseph and Carol Olson, Elsmore, and Robin Stange, Humboldt; and “bonus” family members Michael and Brady Lilly.

A visitation for family and friends is 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 23 in The Venue at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, 1883 US Highway 54, Iola. A memorial service is at 10 a.m. Friday, April 24 at Harvest Baptist Church in Iola. A private family inurnment will be at a later date in Mount Hope Cemetery, Humboldt.

Memorials are suggested to the Cooper Schmidt Scholarship Fund, and may be left with Feuerborn Family Funeral Service.

Condolences for the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.