EUGENE (GENE) CARL SCHMIDT, age 91, of rural Ocheyedan, IA, died Thursday, October 19, 2017, at the Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley, IA. He was born April 22, 1926, in Ocheyedan, IA, to William and Elizabeth (Bremer) Schmidt. Gene attended Zion Lutheran School.  He served his country as a military police officer for the United States Army in the Philippines during WWII.  After returning from the service he graduated from Ocheyedan High School in the class of 1947.

Gene married Esther Ulbricht on June 4, 1960, at St. Paul Lutheran Church near Lakefield, MN. After their marriage, the couple farmed, operated Schmidt Trucking and built a home together east of Ocheyedan, IA.  Esther died after an extended hospitalization resulting from heart surgery.  Gene was devoted to her care until death parted them on May 14, 1986.

Gene married Cheryl (Cheri) Myers on December 28, 1985, at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Worthington, MN. After retiring from farming, Gene and Cheri enjoyed many years of travel, gardening and enjoying life together. They loved and supported each other for 32 years during sickness and health. 

Gene had unwavering faith in Jesus as his Savior.  He was baptized and confirmed as a member of Zion Lutheran Church where he served as a Trustee and enjoyed singing in the choir. He is a current member of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Worthington, and the Ocheyedan American Legion.

Gene loved to tease and enjoyed a good joke. He spoke fondly of his many years of going trapping, fishing, roller skating, and dancing.  He enjoyed music, singing in harmony, buying cars, and tending his asparagus, tomatoes, apricots and of course his apple trees. He also had an amazing ability to fix almost anything.

Gene is survived by his wife, Cheryl Schmidt, Ocheyedan, IA; daughter, Veronica Jean (John) Schmidt Harvey, Houston, TX; son, William Carl (Kim) Schmidt, Omaha, NE; four grandchildren, Brittany (Tim) Gast, Bethany (fiancée, Joe) Schmidt, Leah Schmidt; and Levi Schmidt; three great grandchildren, Jacob, Isaac and Kaitlin; two step-grandchildren, Scott (Britni) Dawson and Heather (Lance) Harvey; five step-great grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Cody, McKenzie, Zakary and Delaney;  sister, Janet (Ginger) Hundertmark, Mesa, AZ; sister-in-law, Violet Schmidt, Spencer, IA; and brother-in-law, Ralph Frese, Aledo, IL.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Esther; a brother, Allen Schmidt; and a sister, Rosetta Frese.

Visitation will be from 5-8 pm Sunday, October 29 at the Dingmann Funeral Home in Worthington; and also one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday, October 30. The funeral will be at 10:30 am Monday at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, in Worthington, officiated by Pastor Mark Schreiber. Burial with full military honors provided by the Ocheyedan American Legion will be in the Zion Lutheran cemetery in rural Ocheyedan, IA.

Memorial donations may be made to The Lutheran Hour at www.LHM.org or The Gideons International at https://www2.gideons.org/donate. To view an online obituary or order flowers, please visit www.dingmannandsons.com. 

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