Molly A. Schmerbach (1993-2017)

SCHMERBACH, DECKER, MORFORD, SHANNON, STECHER, LEBLANG, TRENNEPOHL, SCHILDGEN

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:11

From Leonard Funeral Home and Crematory, Dubuque, Iowa.

Molly A. Schmerbach, 23 of Raleigh, NC, formerly of Dubuque, Ames, and Huxley, IA passed away from a sudden medical condition on Saturday, July 29, 2017.

Friends may visit from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, August 5th, 2017 at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road. A prayer service will be held at 1:00 p.m. with Deacon Jim Schmidt officiating.

Molly was the youngest daughter of Randy and Joan (Decker) Schmerbach of Huxley, IA. Molly was born in Dubuque, IA on September 10, 1993. She graduated from Dubuque Senior High School in 2011 where she actively participated in Cross Country and Tennis. She graduated from Iowa State University in 2016, earning her Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering. Molly was employed in her dream job with HDR Inc. in Raleigh, NC. Molly had a true passion for transportation engineering aimed at creating safe roadways. She had a zest for learning and being challenged in every aspect of her life. Molly was an avid Iowa State fan always seeking opportunities to attend basketball and football games with family and friends.

Molly was always seeking her next adventure and has seen more of the world in her very short 23 years than most in a lifetime. Before Molly began her first “big girl job” after college graduation she road tripped with her best friend through the western part of the United States, seeing many National Parks and the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge. She studied abroad in Swansea, Wales in 2014 where she traveled back to visit friends two more times in the past three years. Molly never let traveling alone or fear of the unknown stand in her way from a life-changing experience. She traveled to 12 countries and 30 cities where she quoted in her study abroad blog “I made some awesome friends and unforgettable memories.” She watched the sunset from the top of the Eiffel Tower, Para-glided and skied in the Swiss Alps, attended the largest physics research facility in the world in Geneva, ran a half marathon in Nice, France, and sat inside Centre Court at Wimbledon, to name a few of her travel highlights.

Aside from all the places Molly has been and the people she met along the way; Molly has profoundly impacted all whom she crossed paths, with her sassy attitude, strong sense of self, curiosity of the world, sarcastic wit and her unfaltering kindness.

Those left behind to cherish her memory include her parents, Randy and Joan (Decker) Schmerbach of Huxley, Iowa, two sisters, Sara Schmerbach and Katelyn (fiancé, Jay Busch) Schmerbach, both of Des Moines, IA and her favorite nephew, Gavin. Her grandmother, Jeanne Morford, Ft. Worth, TX. Her aunts and uncles, Shirley (Ken) Shannon, Carol (Randy) Stecher, Duane (Sue) Decker and Ed (Kelli) Decker all of Dubuque, IA. Marty (Carla) Decker, Zwingle, IA, Diane LeBlang, Centennial, CO, Bernice (Jim) Trennepohl, Minneapolis, MN, Janelle (Rick) Schildgen, Gilbert, AZ, Daryl (Jen) Decker, Omaha, NE, Dan (Roxann) Schmerbach, St. Joseph, MO, Mark (Wanda) Schmerbach, Lawson, MO, Tim (Wendy) Schmerbach, Ft. Worth, TX and 34 cousins.

She was preceded by her maternal grandparents, Raymond J. and Phyllis Decker, her paternal grandfather, Robert (Bob) Schmerbach, and her step-grandfather, Patrick Morford.

In lieu of flowers, a Molly A. Schmerbach Memorial Fund has been established.