Geraldine J. "Gerry" Schmidt

Geraldine J. Schmidt, 91, of Washington, Iowa, passed away Thursday, June 10, 2021 at the United Presbyterian (UP) Home. Funeral services will be Monday, June 14, at 10:30 a.m. at the Washington United Methodist Church (UMC) with Pastor Kwang Song and Chaplain Andrew Zuehlke officiating. Services will be live streamed on the Jones & Eden Facebook page. Calling hours will begin noon Sunday, June 13th at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 2:00 until 3:30 p.m. Interment will be at Elm Grove Cemetery immediately following the service. Memorials may be made to the Washington UMC Pastor’s Fund, to aide families in need; the UP Home; or the Washington, Iowa Betterment Foundation for flowers in local parks. Online condolences may be sent for Gerry’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com. Geraldine Joan Griebel was born January 27, 1930 in Sargent, NE, the daughter of Benedict K. and Emily M. (Cadek) Griebel. She was united in marriage to James A. (Jim) Schmidt on June 11, 1948. Gerry graduated from Sargent High School as Salutatorian and attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln to pursue her bachelor’s degree. After their marriage, she taught school for five years in rural Nebraska, where she decided the boys needed a basketball team, so she became their coach! Gerry was a die-hard Iowa Hawkeye fan and loved watching Hawkeye basketball, football and wrestling; she also rooted for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, as long as they were playing someone other than Iowa. Jim and Gerry moved to Washington in 1954, where Gerry began substitute teaching while finishing her Bachelor’s degree at Iowa Wesleyan College. She spent the next 35 years as a junior high math teacher and guidance counselor, completing her Masters and Educational Specialist degrees at the University of Iowa. Gerry’s gentle, compassionate spirit helped her connect with students and parents alike. She often commented that junior high-aged students were her favorites - that she never wanted to graduate from junior high! Many of her caregivers were students or children of former students. For 50 years Jim and Gerry lived on West Washington Blvd. near the entrance to Sunset Park. Gerry is famous for her flower gardens, volunteering to care for flowers in Sunset Park, and was known for generously sharing flowers from her yard with those celebrating or in need of comfort. She loved to have her fingers in the soil and even as a UP Home resident, enjoyed selecting and helping plant the flower pots in front of the health center. Gerry’s community activities included several bridge clubs, serving on boards or committees of Community Chest, Delta Kappa Gamma, the United Methodist Church, AAUW, WACAN, YWCA, Community Counseling and Chapter J and OC, PEO. She was chosen as the 1992-93 Teacher of the Year; Beta Sigma Phi Woman of the Year, 1984; and YWCA Woman of the Year; 1981-82. She is survived by her daughter, Kate Rubin (Gordon Ginsberg) of Plymouth, MN; son Kirk (Cheryl) Schmidt of Decatur, IL; grandsons Tyler (Misty) Schmidt of Milwaukee, WI and Matthew Schmidt of Los Angeles, CA; bonus granddaughter Niscah (Ronnie) Moller of Grandview, TX; great-granddaughter Mackenzie Rasar (Noah Justi) of Peoria, IL; great-great-grandson Logan James Justi; 9 bonus great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law Opal Griebel Collins (Broken Bow, NE). Gerry was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in August of 2020; and her brother, Leo Griebel. Gerry’s family would like to thank the excellent and caring staff at the UP Home for their dedication and support.

Geraldine J. "Gerry" Schmidt

January 27, 1930 - June 10, 2021