Marvin E. Schmidt

Marvin “Red” E. Schmidt, 82, most recently of Britt, Iowa, formerly of Ventura, Clear Lake, and a longtime farmer west of Klemme, Iowa, passed away Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, at Hancock Memorial Hospital, in Britt, Iowa.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, at 11 a.m., at Immanuel Reformed U.C.C. Church, Klemme, Iowa. Burial with full military honors provided by the Klemme Military Unit will be in the Ell Township Cemetery, Klemme. Reverend Donna Buckman will be officiating. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at church on Wednesday.

Memorials may be directed in Marvin’s name to the Iowa Chapter of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, Inc., P.O. Box 507, Waukee, Iowa 50623, Hospice of North Iowa, Marvin’s family, Wellness classes at Summit House, or to the donor’s choice.

Marvin E. Schmidt, the son of Fred W. and Esther (Priebe) Schmidt, was born on his parent’s farm on April 19, 1933, west of Klemme in Twin Lake Township, Hancock County. He attended rural school at Twin Lake County School #2 and then Klemme High School graduating in the class of 1950. While in high school, Marvin participated in basketball, a sport he loved to play and was very proficient at.

Following his schooling, Marv served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. During his military tenure, he was stationed in Korea where he was a tank mechanic. After being honorably discharged, Marvin returned to farm on the family farm west of Klemme, a vocation and way of life he enjoyed for more than 40 years.

Marvin was united in marriage to Lois Jacobs on Sept. 23, 1956, at Immanuel Reformed UCC Church, in Klemme, their union was blessed with two daughters, Luann and Lori, and a son, Raymond. Marv and Lois raised their children on the farm in rural Klemme. Lois passed away on Jan. 5, 1990.

Marvin later married Ramona Lau on Feb. 23, 1991, at the Immanuel Reformed UCC Church, Klemme. This partnership brought three more children into Marvin’s life, as Ramona’s daughter, Sandra Flickinger, Doug Lau, and Rob Lau joined his life journey.

Following Marv and Ramona’s marriage, the couple lived a short time on the farm before making their home in Clear Lake and then settling in Ventura, for 20 years. Recently they moved to the Summit House Assisted Living Complex in Britt.

After moving to Clear Lake, Marvin was employed for a number of years at the Kum & Go station near the Half Moon Restaurant, where his warm smile and welcoming demeanor was a true asset to the business. He later worked at the Five Star Coop in Ventura.

Not one to sit still and always focused on helping and sharing himself with his communities and others, Marvin drove people to cancer treatments, took Opportunity Village residents on countless excursions, and was a bus driver for Ventura schools for a time.

Family was important and foremost in Marv’s existence. He relished times spent raising his children and nurturing and providing for their needs and wants.

Faith was a pillar in Marvin’s life journey. He was a lifelong member of the Immanuel Reformed Church in Klemme, where he was baptized, confirmed, and married twice. He served as both a deacon and elder there. He faithfully cared for his wife, Lois, prior to her passing and was a wonderful caregiver to Ramona in her health issues. Marvin also was a faithful board member of the Klemme Board of Education for 12 years.

Fellowship was another foundation of Marvin’s life puzzle. Times with family, church members, co-workers, his neighbors, and community were all important in his life fellowship.

Marvin absolutely loved anything Iowa State and Cyclone athletics. He loved to tell stories in ways only he could. He liked showing off his father’s 1929 Case, even though he was a John Deere traditionalist. Life travels rounded out Marv’s taste for fun.

He is survived by his wife, Ramona Lau-Schmidt, Britt; daughters, Luann (Ron) Roloff, Fairmont, Minn., and Lori (Keith) Ewolt, Paulina, Iowa; a son, Ray Schmidt, Belmond, Iowa; step-daughter, Sandi (Lloy) Flickinger, Clear Lake, and step-sons, Doug (Lindy) Lau, Ogden, Iowa and Rob Lau (special companion Shirley Hanson), Klemme; a sister, Irene Barkema, Klemme; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his cousins and extended family and friends. Marv was anxiously looking forward to two more great-grandsons expected to arrive soon.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Esther; his first wife, Lois Ann; sister, Arlene Rasmus; brother in laws, Mervyn Barkema and Irwin “Dean” Rasmus; and son-in-law, Tom Reese.

Andrews Funeral Home, Klemme, was in charge of arrangements.