SCHMIDT, Arnold Karl 1923-2013

SCHMIDT, KOEHLER

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 7/19/2013 at 15:40:24

Arnold Karl Schmidt
(Died July 13, 2013)

Arnold (Arnie) Karl Schmidt, age 89, of Osage, died Saturday, July 13, 2013, in his hometown at Faith Lutheran Home.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 10, 2013, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Osage with Rev. Bruce Kaltwasser officiating. Inurnment will be in the Osage Cemetery. Following services, there will be a time for lunch and fellowship at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, 402 State Street, Osage, Iowa, 50461.

Arnie was born September 14, 1923, in Osage, the son of Karl P. and Helena M. (Koehler) Schmidt. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church. Arnie graduated from Osage High School in 1941, he then traveled to San Diego and found work at Consolidated Air-Craft, building aircraft for the war effort.

In 1942, Arnie volunteered for military service but was unable to serve because of a disqualifying medical condition. His father wrote him in 1942 and told him not to be discouraged and to continue doing his best at assembling those planes for the boys on the front line. In 1948, Arnie moved to Santa Monica, CA, and while working, he attended classes for one year at UCLA.

In the years following World War II, jobs were hard to find. Arnie decided to move back to the Midwest in 1955, and landed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After trying a number of different jobs, he found his calling as a machinist working for Perfex in the company’s product development department. While living in Milwaukee, Arnie was an active member of Hope Lutheran Church. Arnie’s lifelong passion was photography, and he could always be depended on to have his camera ready to capture those special family moments on film.

In 1984, after almost 30 years in the Milwaukee area, his work took him to Grenada, Mississippi. Arnie worked for McQuay/Heatcraft manufacturing, and retired in 1985. He remained in the Grenada area with his procession of cats named Princess. While in Grenada, Arnie found great happiness in the friendships he developed at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Greenwood, Mississippi. In 2009, he returned to his hometown of Osage to be closer to family.

Arnie is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Oswald and Audrey Schmidt of Locust Grove, VA; his sister-in-law, Alice Schmidt of Osage; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister and brother-in-law, Marie L. and Robert Greenwalt Sr.; and a brother, Karl E. Schmidt.

Champion–Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage, (641)732-3706.

Source: Champion–Bucheit Funeral Home website, 7/19/2013