Barbara A. Schmidt

Barbara Schmidt, age 75, of Grinnell, died on Friday, January 23, 2015, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center with her family by her side. A funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m., Monday, January 26, 2015, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Grinnell with Fr. Ron Hodges presiding. Pallbearers will be Justin Vaverka, Adam and Joe Schmidt, Darren VanWyk, Randy Simpson, Stan Boruff, and Bill Hoffman. Interment will be in Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. Visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Smith Funeral Home and the family will be present to greet friends from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Memorials may be designated to the Barbara A. Schmidt Memorial Fund, mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Condolences may be shared with her family online at www.smithfh.com. Barbara Ann (Simpson) Schmidt was born the daughter of Alfred and Lena Marie (Wortman) Simpson on December 17, 1939, in Grinnell, Iowa. She was raised in Grinnell and graduated from Grinnell High School in 1958. Immediately following graduation, she worked as a secretary with Dekalb and then for Peterson & Schild law firm. She was united in marriage to Joseph Dale Schmidt on March 14, 1959, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Grinnell. The couple was blessed with a daughter, Annette, and two sons, Scott and David. They resided in Grinnell all of their lives and Barb was a payroll clerk for the City of Grinnell for 27 years before her retirement in 2001. After her retirement she volunteered at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. She was a longtime member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, the Elks Lodge, and the Eagles Club in Grinnell. Barb's family and faith were her life. She dearly loved her grandchildren and always looked forward to attending their school and sporting events. She was a huge sports fan and especially loved the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Grinnell Tigers. She also loved to travel. One of her most cherished times was when she took her family to Orlando, Florida for a family vacation. Her other enjoyments were bowling, playing cards, and having coffee with her friends. Barb is survived by her children, Annette Vaverka, Scott (Denise) Schmidt, and David Schmidt, all of Grinnell; 5 grandchildren: Jessica Vaverka, Justin Vaverka, Adam (Kelli) Schmidt, Megan Schmidt, and Joseph Schmidt; and her brother, Tom (Darla) Simpson of Grinnell. Barb was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Joseph D. Schmidt in 1989; and her brother, James Simpson; and sister-in-law, Donna Simpson.