Gertrude Louise Ilten Schmidt

1917 - 2018

Gertrude Louise Ilten Schmidt

Cedar Rapids - Gertrude Louise Ilten Schmidt died peacefully on October 25, 2018. Memorial service will be held November 11, 2018 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids at 1pm. A visitation will be held prior to service from 11am-1pm at Cedar Memorial Westside Chapel.

She was born October 8, 1917, to Robert C. and Hulda Brammer Ilten in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Gertrude attended Trinity Lutheran School, Wilson Jr. High, graduated from Grant High School (1934) and received a B.A. from Coe College in 1939. Following graduation, Gertrude taught high school business at Whitten and Stanley Consolidated Schools. Gertrude married LaSalle Arthur "Buster" Schmidt in 1940 and they raised two daughters, Karen and Kathleen, in Delhi Iowa.

From 1964 to 1972 Gertrude taught German at Maquoketa Valley High School. Gertrude moved to Iowa City Iowa in 1972 to receive an M.A. in adult education. Following graduation, Gertrude worked for the University of Iowa Conference Center until retirement in 1983. In 2000, Gertrude moved to Meth-Wick Community where she lived happily for 18 years.

Gertrude lived a life full of love, kindness, and service to others. She was a dedicated homemaker, wife, mother, grandmother, nana and friend. Volunteer organizations included The Red Cross, Voter Election Assistance, and several churches (Our Savior, St. Paul's Chapel, and Trinity Lutheran Church), Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML), American Legion Auxiliary, Kappa Delta Sorority, and the P.E.O. Sisterhood. In 2000, Gertrude moved to Meth-Wick Community where she lived happily for 18 years.

Gertrude was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two brothers (Theodore John and Eugene R. Ilten), one sister-in-law Jane, and daughter Karen E. Schmidt Mathews.

She is survived by her daughter Kathleen, three brothers and spouses, one sister-in-law, five grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews.

In lieu flowers, memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church and School of Cedar Rapids, The Wick Endowment or Unity Point Hospice.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.