Dorothy (Perdue) SCHMIDT

PERDUE, SCHMIDT, CAMPBELL, GROEN, BURGESS, CHALBERG, GOURLEY, KALDENBERG, BERTILSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/10/2010 at 13:44:40

March 4, 2008
Belmond Independent - Iowa

Dorothy Schmidt, 87, formerly of Meservey, died February 23, 2008 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Services were held February 29 at First Reformed Church in Meservey with Rev. Rodney Meester presiding. Interment was at the Meservey Cemetery.

Dorothy was born November 26, 1920 at home in Anamosa, a daughter of Dean and Addie (Campbell) Perdue. The family moved many times during her youth, and she graduated from Rockwell High School. She attended Mason City Junior College and earned her teaching certificate. She began teaching in Meservey in 1940. On August 21, 1942 Dorothy married Ralph D. Schmidt at Memphis, MO. She continued to teach, but after a few years devoted her time to raising her children. Dorothy returned to teaching at CAL and then at Klemme. She returned to college to earn her bachelor's degree and was a proud alumnus of Drake University. Dorothy taught at Klemme for 21 years before retiring, and then continued to tutor students during the summer. Ralph died in 1987. Dorothy traveled with her sister-in-law Francis Groen on many bus trips. In 1999 she moved to an apartment in Des Moines. Dorothy was a member of First Reformed in Meservey, and her family remembers her strong faith. She played the violin and was an avid fan of all sports, especially those at Drake.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers David and Daniel; and sister Delores 'Jo' Burgess. Survivors include her son James Jay Schmidt of Clear Lake; daughter Rebecca (J.C.) Chalberg of Wheeling, IL; son Steven J. (Mary) Schmidt of Norwalk; grandchildren Lacey and Dylan Schmidt, John (Paige) Gourley and Matt Gourley; brother-in-law Charles 'Bud' Burgess; and sisters-in-law Bernice Perdue, Arlene Kaldenberg, Loraine Bertilson and Francis Groen.