Jerry Schmidt

Jerry Schmidt, 72 of Marion, passed away on May 3, 2024 at his home surrounded by his family. Funeral Service will be at 2:00 PM Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at the First Church of God, Marion. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 PM Tuesday, May 7, at the church with a Prayer Service at 7:00PM. Arrangements provided by Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Home.

I was born to Erwin and Verna Schmidt. I had three siblings. Diane, Stanley (who we call Buzz because my grandma did) and Sylvia. I can't remember not knowing Jesus as I was growing up. I was the youngest grandchild of the Jacob and Caroline Schmidt family,  I remember hearing stories of family time after time. I went to country school at Cottonwood District #96 for 8 years, walking or riding my horse. Being the youngest, I learned how to not get caught by observing my three older siblings. I knew in grade school that I wanted to join the Army, grow a beard and be a hermit on a hill. Oh well. Two out of three was pretty good. I served in Vietnam for 9 months and in my backpack was 5,000 gallons of jet fuel; I was a trucker. I got to see a lot of the United States and three different countries while in the military; Vietnam, Germany and Okinawa, Japan. I also got to go through a monsoon season.

I met my wife Alice when I was on leave from Vietnam in 1972. We  were married in 1973. I went to trade school in Milford, NE. where I took building construction, auto body and welding. Some people said I was a plumber if I bent over just right. Ha!( Alice never did appreciate my sense of humor!) I enjoyed my two sons, their wives and my grandchildren immensely!

I loved to garden. We always had a big garden and we learned how to can and use a pressure cooker. I enjoyed raising Shorthorn Cattle and German Shepherd dogs. I was a self-taught wood carver. I spent many hours carving faces and scenes. Even took some to exhibit at the Turner County Fair. This was a hobby I really enjoyed doing. I drove the Special Ed car to Sioux Falls for many years for the Marion school and picked up the kindergarten children for several years also. That was fun as you never knew what those little ones were going to say.

Alice and I have 7 grandchildren that I enjoyed spending time with.   After my grandchildren started school and were involved in activities and sports, that was the highlight of my life. Watching them participate. I would drive for miles to watch them.  I loved playing Checkers and Sorry! with them and hearing them laugh and giggle when they'd beat me. At first I'd let them win but here towards the end I couldn't beat them. I taught them well! They brought me so much enjoyment they will never know.

I had two things I was looking forward to. One was reaching the age of 70 and one was to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. Now my next goal is heaven! Hope to see you all there!

Jerry is survived by his wife Alice, sons Josh his wife Jordan granddaughters Hailey and Jerrilee (Jerry’s namesake). Jared and his wife Kyla and grandsons Hayden, Kolter, Greyson, Leyton and Connor; brother Stanley”Buzz” of San Leonardo, CA; sister Sylvia (Duane) Sanders of Beatrice, NE; nieces, nephews, and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother-in-law Diane(Hank) Snider, brother-in-law Alvin Schuster, sister-in-law Charlotte Schmidt, and niece Debra Lambert.