Elaine M. (Pals) SCHMIDT

SCHMIDT, PALS, MENNENGA, GOEMAN, MCKNIGHT, EDWARDS, HAMMONDS, WILLETT, GOEMAN-WILLETT, TREHARNE, JOHNSON, FAABORG, GROEN, STADTLANDER, SMITH

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/18/2011 at 16:09:44

June 24, 1926 -- September 6, 2011

BELMOND, IA - Elaine M. Schmidt, 85, of Belmond passed away Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011, at the Belmond Medical Center. Funeral services for Elaine M. Schmidt will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Immanuel Reformed Church east of Belmond with Pastor Dave DeKuiper officiating. Burial will take place in the Immanuel Reformed Church Cemetery. Visitation for Elaine M. Schmidt will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, at the Dugger Funeral Home, 111 Luick's Lane S. in Belmond and also one hour prior to services on Saturday at the church.

Elaine was born in Belmond on June 24, 1926, to Dick A. and Grace (Mennenga) Pals. She was a class of 1944 graduate of Belmond High School. In her parents' home on Oct. 23, 1947, she married Clarence Junior Schmidt of Meservey. Clarence and Elaine had three children, Darwin Lynn, Darla Lee and Deon Rae. The couple spent 40 years together farming outside Meservey. They enjoyed golfing in couples tournaments and Saturday nights out for supper with dear friends. Elaine recorded a hole-in-one during one tournament. After Clarence's death in 1987, Elaine moved from the farm to Belmond. She traveled with friends and loved playing cards, especially solitaire. She was a surrogate grandma to several children that she cared for. She also enjoyed quilting and crocheting, making numerous quilts and afghans for family members, the homeless and shut-ins. Elaine's faith in God grew strong throughout her lifelong membership at Immanuel Reformed Church. She is lovingly remembered as kind, patient and never one to complain about her numerous health issues.

Elaine is survived by her children, Darwin (wife Nicole) of Alabama: Darla Goeman (husband Don Jr.) of Belmond: Deon Schmidt (husband Richard Edwards) of Des Moines; grandchildren, Aaron Goeman (wife Lisa); Aimee (Goeman) McKnight (husband Tad); Tate Goeman; Sydney and Jared Edwards; Joseph Hammonds; four great-grandchildren, Olivia Goeman-Willett, Thomas Treharne, and Christopher and Caley McKnight; sister, Lyola Johnson of Belmond; sisters-in-law, Phyllis Stadtlander of Meservey and Shirley Faaborg of Clear Lake; brother-in-law, Roman Johnson of Belmond; and numerous nieces and nephews, relatives and friends. Elaine is preceded in death by her parents; husband Clarence; sister Ruth Groen; sisters-in-law Caroline Schmidt, Wilma Johnson and Ruth Smith; brothers-in-law Herman Stadtlander, Jack Faaborg, Herman Groen, Leonard Schmidt and Harold Smith.
Memorials may be made to Immanuel Reformed Church or Belmond Medical Center. Dugger Funeral Home, 111 Luick's Lane S., Belmond, Iowa.

Mason City Globe Gazette -- Iowa
September 9, 2011