Gertrude Schmidt

GERTRUDE SCHMIDT Cedar Rapids Gertrude Louise Ilten Schmidt died peacefully on Oct. 25, 2018. A memorial service will be held Nov. 11, 2018, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, at 1 p.m. A visitation will be held before the service from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Westside Chapel. She was born Oct. 8, 1917, to Robert C. and Hulda Brammer Ilten in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Gertrude attended Trinity Lutheran School and Wilson Junior High, graduated from Grant High School in 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, several churches (Our Savior, St. Paul's Chapel and Trinity Lutheran Church), Lutheran Women's Missionary League, American Legion Auxiliary, Kappa Delta Sorority and the P.E.O. Sisterhood. 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; 13 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of 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.