Obituary of Wilmer Charles Schmidt

Wilmer was born on May 14, 1925, in St. Donatus, Iowa, the son of Ferdinand and Catherine (Geber) Schmidt. He served in the US Army toward the end of WWII. He married Dolores Heims on September 12, 1950, in Worthington, Iowa. Together they began farming near Bernard, Hopkinton and finally settling near Earlville where he was always a progressive farmer. Wilmer was a skilled metal worker using his talent in fabricating his own farm equipment. They retired in Dyersville in 1989. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 1734. He was a wonderful and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. He loved spending time with his family, a good card game and a low scoring golf game. Survivors include his wife, Dolores, 7 children: Carole (Eugene) Nauman of Dubuque, Gary (Jeanne) of Marion, Rick (special friend Taña) of Dubuque, Sandy (Dr. Joseph) Jenkins of Dubuque, Julie (Joseph) Burkle of Urbandale, Janice (Larry) Maiers of Earlville and Sue Ellen (Steve) Claus of Loves Park, IL, 17 Grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, 1 sister, Elgene Mesch of Dubuque, 5 sisters-in-law: Lorraine, Catherine and Erna Schmidt, Rosie White, Ruth (Dick) Welch. He was preceded in death by his parents, 4 brothers, Elmer, Harold, Louis and Donald Schmidt, and several brothers-and-sisters-in-law. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the staffs of Stonehill Care Center, Assisi Village, Ellen Kennedy Living Center, Mercy Hospital and Medical Associates for your wonderful care of Wilmer. A grateful thank you to the extended family members that shared in Wilmer's last days. Friends may call from 2 - 8 p.m. Friday, September 17, 2010, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, Iowa where a parish scripture service will be held at 5:30 p.m. and a Knights of Columbus Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 18, 2010, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, Iowa with burial in the church cemetery. Officiating will be Rev. Robert Gross.