Schmitt, Earl 1934 - 2021
SCHMITT, BLONG, JOHNSON, MIEDEMA, CLOUD, BLANCO, OPPOLD, BARLOON
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/26/2021 at 12:49:02
U.S. Veteran
Earl Schmitt, age 87, of Johnston, IA (formerly of St. Lucas) died on Thursday, November 18, 2021 at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, November 22, 2021, at St. Luke's Catholic Church in St. Lucas, Iowa, with Rev. Nick Radloff presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 21, 2021 at the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home French Chapel, 202 South Washington St. in Calmar and also from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service on Monday at the Church.
Despite long-term heart problems and recent health challenges, Earl lived independently and maintained his sharp wit, attention to detail, and passion for the St. Louis Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings fan to the end.
Earl was born on February 8, 1934 to Chris and Agnes (Blong) Schmitt on Old Mission Farm located two miles southwest of Festina. He attended St. Luke’s School in St. Lucas, IA. Earl joined the Air Force and served from 1953-1957. While stationed in Memphis, TN, he met his sweetheart, Annell “Nell” Johnson. Earl and Nell were married on June 8, 1957.
Earl and Nell ran Old Mission Farm until Earl’s retirement in 2000. They were parents to six children; Felicia, Sharon, Warren, Sheila, Chris and Jason. He was an active member of the American Legion and Knights of Columbus, and served on the St. Lucas School Board for several years. After retirement, Earl and Nell resided in Calmar until 2006 when they relocated to Johnston, Iowa. Prior to Covid, Earl was active at the Johnston, Iowa Senior Center where he was a two-time champion of Tournament Wii Bowling. In 2019 he wrote and published his own memoirs.
Earl is survived by his five children: Felicia (Allen) Miedema of Urbandale, Iowa; Sharon (Dan) Cloud of Glenview, IL; Warren (Sarah) of Dakota Dunes, SD; Sheila (David) Blanco of Chicago, IL and Jason (Mary Jo) of Ames, IA. In addition to his five surviving children; Earl is survived by his sisters, Gladys (Joe) Oppold and Sylvia (George) Barloon, twelve grandchildren: Brent, Darrin (McKenna), David and Hannah Miedema, Gryffon and Becky Cloud, Abigail and Luke Schmitt, Katie Blanco, Wyatt (Rachel) Schmitt, Grace and Emma Schmitt, and three great-grandchildren Jackson, Eleanor, and Ruby Miedema.
Earl was preceded in death by his wife Nell, son Chris, granddaughter Carli Blanco, and brothers Theodore “Ted,” Linus, Richard, and Reverend Donald Schmitt.
Source: Schluter-Balik Funeral Home database
St. Luke's Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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