Susan Jane Schmidt

1940 - 2022

Susan Jane (Peet) Schmidt, 82, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, formerly of Martelle, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, at The Gardens of Cedar Rapids. Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, June 3, 2022, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon. Funeral Services: 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Mount Vernon, Iowa, with additional visitation at 10 a.m. Burial: Norwich Cemetery, Martelle. Those unable to attend are invited to watch the service via livestream. Please find the livestream link on Susan’s Tribute Wall and share your love and memories with her family at www.stewartbaxter.com under Obituaries. Susan Jane Peet was born Jan. 9, 1940, at Mercy Hospital, Anamosa to Robert W. Peet and Pauline Kyle Peet of Martelle. Susan started First Grade at the Martelle Consolidated School in 1945 and graduated in 1957. She was very active in music in high school, playing her baritone sax in the band and being in choir all four years of high school as well as singing solos at state contests. She also accompanied many band and vocal solos at contests. She attended Cedar Rapids Business College for one year and was secretary for a Cedar Rapids lawyer the summer of 1958. She then attended Drake University in Des Moines where she graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and a teaching minor in Business Education. She participated in many music activities at Drake: University Chorus, Drake Choir, and the Drake Band. She also worked for the Dean of Education. On Aug. 12, 1961, she and James Baird Schmidt were married at the Martelle Methodist Church. They have resided on the same farm since their wedding. (Susan has had a Martelle mailing address for her whole life). They were the parents of three children; Amy Schmidt Mann, Debra Schmidt Judge, and Eric James Schmidt After she and Jim were married, she became a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Mount Vernon, where she was already working with the Adult Choir and playing the organ for services, Christmas Programs, Weddings, and Funerals. Over the years, she directed the Adult Choir, children's choirs and did the music for many VBS's. She retired from playing the organ in 2011 after 50 years. Susan gave piano and voice lessons in her home beginning in 1963. She gave many students their start in music. In later years, she went to the student's homes and gave the lessons which worked very well. She taught for 26 years In 1982, she helped organize the St. Paul Lutheran Preschool in Mount Vernon. She was Lead Teacher and also did all the bookwork for the preschool. She really loved those three to five year-olds. and retired in 1993, when the preschool closed Susan sewed most of the clothes for her daughters and later made Debra's wedding dress. She sewed prom dresses for several of the neighbor girls. She sewed all of her family's clothing for the Martelle Centennial in 1972. Susan was a member of the Martelle Century Club (a Federated Women's Club which her mother had helped organize in 1947). She held offices at the local, district and state level. Susan preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Pauline Kyle Peet; and an infant son, Michael, in Jan 4, 1963. Survivors include her husband, James Schmidt; her daughters, Amy Mann (Joel) and Debra Judge (Mike); son, Eric Schmidt (Hilary); and seven grandchildren, Miranda and Alex Schweer, Joey and Jerzey Judge, and Andrew, Matthew and Lucas Galloro. She also is survived by her brother, R Douglas Peet; her sister, Ellen Aakre; and two nieces and three nephews. Memorials may be directed to St. Paul Lutheran Church for the music ministry and organ fund.