MUSCATINE COUNTY, IOWA SCHOOL NEWS

Transcribed, as written, by Beverly Gerdts on June 25, 2019

Page 83

DONALD SCHMIDT

    Donald Schmidt is looking forward to visiting his former classmates and teachers. Donald attended Old Garfield from 1944 thru 1950. He was in the scouting program and obtained the rank of Eagle Scout, a very good accomplishment. After he graduated from High School he joined the U.S. Navy for 3 years.

     Leaving the Navy he went to work for Thatcher Plastics for 6 years. Donald and his wife have been married for over 34 years and have one son, Lee, who is now in the Navy along with his wife. Donald's son gave him 2 beautiful grandchildren, Traci, 9 and the fearless David, 4.

     Donald and his wife Shirley owned and operated the Dairy Freeze on Stewart Road for 6 years. He is now employed at the Fair Station and has been there for over 31 years and currently is the senior shift supervising engineer.

     He received his training in the Navy and at the University of Minnesota. His wife is a graduate of St Ambrose University and is currently employed at St. Joseph Church in Davenport, Iowa.

     He still loves to go fishing, working in his garden, and hitting a golf ball now and then. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 1993. After surgery he underwent 6 months of chemotherapy and is in remission now.

     His neighbors have been great to him. Doing all outdoor chores during the winter of 1993. Even the boys from down the street came by weekly to take his garbage out for him. Nice to have neighbors like that. He says he is grateful to be among the land of the living and will continue to go on -- ducking and swinging.