Irene Leona Schmidt

Irene Leona Schmidt, the daughter of Carl C. and Mattie (Rasmussen) Johnson, was born December 16, 1921, at her parent’s home in rural Carroll County, Iowa and died September 15, 2017, at the Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa at the age of 95 years, 8 months, and 29 days.
Irene was baptized and confirmed. She attended rural school then graduated from the Exira High School with the Class of 1939. She studied at Dana College and graduated with a teaching degree. Irene then taught country school for one year.
On June2, 1944, she was united in marriage to Victor Harold Schmidt at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa. They were blessed with three children Wendell, Lynnette, and Jerry. Irene and Victor purchased a farm adjacent to the Schmidt family farm where they grew row crops and raised livestock. Irene was a stay at home mom for their three children. In 1976, she became a certified nurse’s aide and was employed at the Friendship Home in Audubon for many years. They resided on the farm until 1990 when they retired and moved into Audubon. Victor died on November 23, 1991. Irene lived at home until she moved to the Heritage House in 2014.
Irene was a member of the Ebenezer Lutheran Church west of Audubon. She was passionate about service to her church. She was a Sunday school superintendent for many years, held various positions on Women of the Church committees, and was always ready to spearhead a cause for those in need. Irene loved to make quilts for the Lutheran World Relief and for the Okoboji Bible Camp. Caring and Sharing in Audubon was also dear to her heart. Irene was a sports fan. She was especially an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and spent many hours listening to their games. Irene will be remembered for her kind heart, gentle spirit, and devotion to God, family, and friends.
Preceding her in death was her husband Victor H. Schmidt; her daughter-in-law Pat Schmidt; her parents; her sister Helen Elaine and husband Thayer Smith; her brother-in-law Les Welna; and her special friend Robert Boldt.
Survivors include her children Wendell Schmidt of Atlantic, Iowa, Lynnette and husband Mike Spetman of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Jerry and wife Ruth Schmidt of Blair, Nebraska; her grandchildren David and wife Kathy Spetman of Madison, Alabama, Michelle Spetman of Dallas, Texas, Erik Schmidt of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Karin and husband Bjorn Broman of Urbandale, Iowa, her two great granddaughters Michaela and Addison Spetman of Madison, Alabama; her sister Ruby Welna and her brother Frank and wife Norma Johnson all of Omaha, Nebraska, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
The family will meet with friends on Sunday afternoon, September 17, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Kelley Pedersen on Monday morning, September 18, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church west of Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Ebenezer Lutheran Cemetery. The honorary casket bearers will be Gary Welna, Steve Johnson, Greg Johnson, Everett Petersen, Norlan Rasmussen, and Dalton Christensen. The casket bearers will be David Spetman, Erik Schmidt, Bjorn Broman, Ron St. Peter, Rod Hansen, and Roger Randeris. The family prefers memorials to the Ebenezer Lutheran Church or the Okoboji Bible Camp.