Michael "Mike" Kaschmitter

  Michael “Mike” Kaschmitter was born December 17, 1939 to Richard and Mildred (Gerst) Kaschmitter. He grew up in LeMars, IA with his eleven siblings. In his youth, he enjoyed sports and played on the first sanctioned little league baseball team west of the Mississippi. He graduated from Gehlen Catholic High School in 1957. After graduation he served in the US Navy from 1958 to 1960.

  One day in December 1960, Mike walked into a jewelry store in LeMars to get his watched fixed, where he saw a beautiful brunette. Just over two years later, he married Betty Schilmoeller on April 20, 1963. They first settled in Sioux City, IA before moving to Spencer in 1971, where they have lived ever since.

  He began his career as a pole dancer (lineman) with Northwestern Bell in January 1961 where he worked for 30 years. He retired as a construction supervisor from US West in 1990.

  Upon his retirement, Sacred Heart Parish was in need of a new custodian and he told the pastor, “I’ll help you out til you find somebody”. Eleven years later, they found someone new and over a decade of students now answer to the name “George.”

  He gave a lifetime of service to his community and anyone who needed help. He was an active member of Sacred Heart Parish, a member of the Lion’s Club, GAIC, and a little league baseball and softball pitching coach. He’ll be most remembered as an excellent life coach to his kids.

  He shared a litany of advice, jokes and “dadisms” that will be passed down for years to come. A personal favorite includes, “this is better than downtown Sioux City on a Saturday night.”

  He is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Mildred; siblings: Arlene Simmons, Fred, Dick, Carol Day and Larry; and great granddaughter, Bethany Schmidt.

  Mike is survived by his wife, Betty; his children: Judy (Lee) Wallace, Jim (Rhonda), Chris (Laura), Joe (Mary 2), and Mary 1 (Chad) Rasmus; his grandchildren: Andrew (Kate) Schmidt, Megan Schmidt, Brandon (Ariane) Kester, Hannah and Abbey Kaschmitter, Casey (Connor) Almasi, Lindsey and Ben Kaschmitter, Emma (Darren) Rettig, Lily and Lauren Boka, and Caden and Mayci Rasmus; his eleven great grandchildren: his siblings: Isabelle (Dick) Laddusaw, Marilyn Bruzek, Evelyn Black, Bonnie (Gene) DeBoe, Susie Strouse, Jolene (Brad Hansen) and his in-laws, Fran Kaschmitter and Lynn Day.

Mike will be remembered as dad, grandpa (George), fixer and friend. If we’ve misremembered anything, well, BTSOM