Obituary of Barbara Schmidt

Born on a farm southeast of Gaza, Iowa on February 12, 1930, Barbara Lou was the third child of Lawrence and Laura (Lake) Guetschow. She was baptized at the Congregational Church of Primghar and attended Gaza Consolidated School, graduating in 1947. The following year, Barb completed a commercial art course from Art Instruction, Inc. in Minneapolis. She was later employed as domestic help for various families in the Primghar and Melvin areas and clerked at Strubbe Grocery in Melvin. On November 11, 1951 she was united in marriage to Harold Schmidt at the American Lutheran Church in Melvin. In May of 1952 the couple moved to a farm 4 & ¾ miles north of Sanborn where they have resided for the past sixty years. Four children completed the family. In addition to homemaking and farming activities, Barb was active in her church where she taught Sunday and Bible School, sang in the choir, belonged to the ALCW and fashioned a number of banners for various church purposes. She was a former member of the Melvin Legion Auxiliary. In the early 80’s, she completed the Certified Nurses Aide program at NCC and was employed at Prairie View in Sanborn for fifteen years. Following a series of lengthy hospitalizations that began in late January of this year, Barb began recuperating at Prairie View on June 27 and passed away there suddenly on July 13, 2012. Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Harold; four children, Fay (Bob) Schall of Primghar, Paula Schmidt of Sanborn, Ann (Patrick) Illg of Urbandale, and Lee Schmidt of Sanborn; two grandsons, Sam and Joe Illg, also of Urbandale; four sisters, Joyce Duke of Fresno, California, Phyllis (Dale) Dean of Shawnee Mission, Kansas, Marion Dvorak, and Pat (Harvey) Juber all of Melvin; one brother, Jerry (Evelyn) Guetschow of Smithville, Missouri; two sisters-in-law, Arlene Guetschow of San Jose, California and Jean Schmidt of Sanborn; nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; one older brother Lewis; and two brothers-in-law, Ivan Duke and Raymond Schmidt. Barb will always be remembered for her devotion to her home and family. She enjoyed classical music, art, sporting events, gardening, baking up a storm and spending time with her grandsons. Celebrating the life of Barbara Lou Schmidt Born ~ February 12, 1930 Died ~ July 13, 2012 Age ~ 82 years 5 months 1 day Funeral Service 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 20, 2012 American Lutheran Church Melvin, Iowa Clergy ~ Rev. Judith Johnson Organist ~ Starla Reitsma Viola ~ Catherine Schreur Soloist ~ Denise Steffen Special Music “An Evening Prayer” “Goin’ Home” Congregational Singing Processional ~ “Praise To The Lord” #543 “Be Still My Soul” (Insert) Recessional ~ “Beautiful Savior” #518 Pallbearers Lee Schmidt Sam Illg Joe Illg Todd Juber Stan Schmidt Mark Schmidt Ushers Larry & Becky Hennings Interment Baker Township Cemetery Melvin, Iowa