Paul W. Schmalz
September 11, 1944 – June 10, 2023
Paul W. Schmalz died at Overland Park, Kansas on June 10, 2023. He was born in Jefferson City, Missouri on September 11, 1944, and baptized at Trinity Church. He was the second of three sons of the Rev. Alfred C. Schmalz and Gertrude Ehlen Schmalz and was the fourth generation of Lutheran school teachers and musicians who first emigrated from Germany to Minnesota in the 1850s.
He was confirmed in the faith in 1958 at St. John's Church, Luverne, Minnesota where soon he was playing the organ for worship. In the eleventh grade he transferred to Concordia, St. Paul, Minnesota where he became the youngest organ student of the internationally known organist, Prof. Paul Manz and received awards in piano with the metropolitan Schubert Club.
Paul continued his keyboard studies in his third year of college at Valparaiso University where he was discovered to be a gifted stage performer. After briefly considering an acting career Paul returned to the Twin Cities and completed his music and teaching degree at the University of Minnesota and Concordia College. He was a teacher and musician in St. Paul in the early 1970s where he was married for several years to the former Jolene Juedes of Shawano Wisconsin, also a musician and teacher. He had no children but delighted in his hundreds of former students, calling them "my children," as well as holding dear his dear nephews and nieces and their children.
Paul came to Kansas City in 1976 where he served 33 years at Calvary Lutheran Church and School, first as fifth grade teacher and music director and later as full time musician until his retirement in 2009. He enjoyed his fellow teachers and especially the three pastors with whom he loved to create beautiful worship for God's people and the Triune God. Paul's partnership in ministry culminated with current Pastor, Bryce Bereuter, in an especially blessed partnership during his last years at Calvary.
Aside from music making, Paul loved living in Kansas City, delighting in its arts and many Paul loved travel and visited many parts of the United States and Canada. He was particularly proud of his solo trip through Europe after he played organ at niece Stephanie's wedding in Aigle, Switzerland in 2002.
Paul is preceded in death by his parents and his close friend David Hamam. He is mourned by immediate family: brother Dan (Connie), nieces Sara (Bill) and Stephanie (Marc Frederic and Anna Claire), brother Joel (Trudy), nephews David and Mark (Michaela, Ainsley and Emory).
Paul’s funeral was held at Calvary Lutheran Church, Kansas City on June 16, 2023. Interment at Riverside Cemetery, Jefferson City on June 17, 2023.
Memorials made be given to Calvary Lutheran Church, 7500 Oak Street, Kansas City, MO 64114 or Good Shepherd Hospice, 123 W Kansas Avenue, Independence, MO 64050.