Gerald P. Schmidt

Gerald P. Schmidt, age 87, of Preston, Iowa died on Thursday, May 9, 2013 at the Maquoketa Care Center, Maquoketa, Iowa. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Preston, with Father Don Hertges as Celebrant. Burial will take place in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Preston. Military rites will be accorded by the Preston American Legion. A Rosary service will be held at 3:30 p.m., prior to the visitation at the church. A visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, May 13, 2013 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Preston. A Scripture Wake service will be held at 7:00 p.m., following the visitation. A memorial fund has been established in Gerald’s memory.
Gerald was born August 13, 1925, the son of John and Katherine (Tebbe) Schmidt, in rural Springbrook, Iowa. He attended Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School, Springbrook. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy from 1943-1946. Gerald worked for Clinton Engines for 12 years. After which, he spent his time doing side jobs on local farms, and worked for the City of Preston until his retirement in 1990.
Gerald married Mary Ann McDonald on May 28, 1955 at. He was a member of the Preston American Legion and the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed watching baseball, and was an avid Cubs and Hawkeyes fan.
Gerald will be dearly missed by his wife, Mary Ann, of Maquoketa; one son, Greg Schmidt of DeWitt, Iowa; three grandchildren, Kaitlin, Adam and Nick of DeWitt; four sisters, Maryetta (Larry) Lampe of Bellevue, Iowa, Pat (Verlyn) Trenkamp of Omaha, Nebraska and Charlene Grotheus of Olatha, Kansas; six brothers, Lenard (Shirley) Schmidt of Woodburn, Oregon, Vincent (Anita) Schmidt of Bellevue, Vitus Schmidt of Elk Grove, Nebraska, Levi (Vera) Schmidt of Maquoketa, David (Audrey) Schmidt of Baldwin, Iowa, and Tommy (Lee) Schmidt of Florida
Gerald was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, Eddie, Harold, Herbert, Ronnie, Jimmy and Jude Schmidt; and four sisters, Dorothy Ziemet, Margaret Rubel, Marcella Schmidt and Katherine Groves.