Fred Schmidt

Services: Wed. Feb. 11 11:00 am Zion Lutheran Church, 310 N. Johnson St., Iowa City, IA 52245 Burial prior to service at 9:30 am in the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery Visitation: Tues., Feb. 10 3-7 pm Peterseim Funeral Home, Kalona Memorial: Zion Lutheran Church or Kalona Historical Society, PO Box 292, Kalona,IA 52247 Fred Schmidt , 89, of Iowa City, recently of Kalona, died Sunday February 8, 2009, surrounded by his loving family at Lantern Park Care Center in Iowa City from leukemia. Memorial Service will be held at Zion Lutheran Church in Iowa City, Wednesday, February 11 at 11am. Visitation will be from 3 to7pm on Tuesday, at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona. Burial will take place at St. John's cemetery at 9:30 am in rural Sharon Center prior to the memorial service. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Donna (Ayers) Schmidt, his sister Ada Crow of Oxford, daughter Sarah Fritz (Ted) of Newton, MA, sons David Schmidt (Susan) and John Schmidt (Allison York) of Iowa City, grand-children Kimberly Fritz of Kirkland, WA and Deborah Fritz of Santa Fe, NM, Alexander (Genevieve Anglin) and Benjamin Schmidt (Elsa) of Iowa City and Gregory Fritz (Stephanie) of Clinton, MA, and five great-grandchildren. Fred was preceded in death by his sister Edna Orr of Cedar Rapids and his parents, Emil and Anna Conrad Schmidt Fred was born January 6, 1920. He graduated from University High School in Iowa City. With his father's illness, Fred assumed operation of the family farm during his teenage years and continued to farm until his retirement. Fred also worked for University of Iowa Security for twenty years while continuing to farm with his son, David. A proud moment for the family was when their Johnson County farm was officially designated a Century Farm. This farm is still operated by Fred's son and grandson . Fred has been active in Zion Lutheran Church for many years and a member of the Optimists club. Earlier in his retirement Fred volunteered for many years at Iowa City's Mercy Hospital and also worked as a guide at the Kalona Historical Museum An avid reader, Fred and Donna, were also members of the Kalona Library book club. Fred maintained many lifelong friendships through his interest in bridge, travel and Hawkeye sports. Memorial may be directed to the Kalona Historical Museum, PO 292 Box, Kalona, IA 52247 or the Zion Lutheran Church, 310 N Johnson St, Iowa City, IA 52245.