Pike Township Family Stories
RALPH SCHMITT FAMILY
Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book 1884-1984, pages 227-228
By Bernice McMahon SchmittRalph Orin Schmitt, son of Louis J. Schmitt and Netty J. Wagschal Schmitt, was born 28 June 1917 at the farm home located in Pike township. Ralph was educated in the Muscatine county rural schools and was graduated from Nichols High school in 1934. After graduation he helped on the family farm and did custom farming and trucking.
On 29 December 1941 Ralph Schmitt was married to Bernice McMahon at Kahoka, Missouri. In January 1942 he joined the U. S. Navy and was in the service during World War II from 1942-1946 as an aviation machinist mate.
After his discharge from the Navy, Ralph and Bea returned to Nichols to make their home. Once again he became a farmer after his father’s death. Later he worked for Bob Chown at Chown Appliace, and in August of 1951, he was appointed as rural mail carrier, a job he held until his retirement in April 1978.
Ralph served on the Nichols School board, was a member of the Nichols Volunteer Fire department for many years and was an active member of the American Legion in Lone Tree.
He died 8 July 1981 and is buried in the Nichols cemetery.
Bernice McMahon Schmitt, a daughter of Ward and Vera Carter McMahon, was born at the family farm home at West Liberty. She was educated in the Muscatine county rural schools and graduated from Nichols High school. She taught in rural schools in Muscatine county for four years. After her family was raised, she worked as a bookkeeper for the West Liberty Oil company.
Ralph and Bernice Schmitt were parents of two children, Stuart Orin Schmitt and Sandra Kay Schmitt.
Stuart Orin Schmitt was born in Muscatine. He attended the Nichols school. From there he went to Iowa State university in Ames, Iowa, where he received a BSEE degree. Stuart then joined the U. S. Navy and was commissioned an ensign. He married Sandra Jean Daly from Muscatine. They have one son, Stuart Schmitt II.
During Stuart’s years in the Navy, he went to flight training and then to pilot training. He has primarily flown fighter aircraft, first the F-4 Phantom and then the F-14 Tomcat. He has flown over 5,000 flight hours and has 230 combat missions in Viet Nam. He is currently [1984] flying both the F-4 and F-14 in his assignment as Flight Test Officer at the Pacific Missile Test Center, NAS Point Magu, California. Stuart also enjoys flying light aircraft at the base flying club and has an Ultralight he flies for pleasure. The highlight of his Navy career was his tour as Commanding Officer of the VF-111 (Sundowners), an F-14 squadron.
Sandra Kay Schmitt was born in Iowa City. She attended the Nichols school, then graduated from Lone Tree High school. She attended the Nichols Christian church and assisted as a Sunday school teacher under Alice Hillyer. She also assisted Edna Kirchner as organist during her high school years. Edna was also her piano teacher for eleven years.
Sandra graduated from Iowa State university, Ames, Iowa, with a degree in zoology. She then entered The University of Iowa and graduated with a certificate in physical therapy.
Sandra married Jon Bumeister from Stockton, Iowa. They are parents of three boys: Greg Anthony Burmeister; Mark Davis Burmeister, and Scot Travis Burmeister. They live in Groves, Texas, where Sandra works as a physical therapist and Jon is an attorney [1984].
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