Obituary of Charles Leonard Schmidt

    Charles Leonard Schmidt, the son of Edwin and Agnes (Westlund) Schmidt, was born in Scotland, South Dakota on February 6, 1932. He spent his youth in Scotland and graduated with the class of 1950.
    He was united in marriage to Ramona May Kunkel, also from Scotland, on September 23, 1951.
    Following his graduation from Scotland High School, he worked in Scotland at the family-owned furniture store, funeral home, and gas plant.
    In 1953, Charles joined the United States Army and served during the Korean War. Upon returning to the United States, he began classes at Southern State Teachers College in Springfield, South Dakota where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1958. He taught in Orange City, Iowa for two years, then enrolled in the University of South Dakota and earned a Master’s of Education degree in 1962. Relocating to Hoffman, Minnesota, he taught science there until 1964. He then interviewed and was hired in Hartley, Iowa where he served as High School Principal for 27 years until his retirement in 1992.
    Following his retirement, Charles spent time with various hobbies, including: building and flying radio control aircraft, hunting and fishing, painting, collecting guns, leather work, and many other activities. Some of his favorite times were spent at morning coffee down at Red’s Café with the gang. He passed away at the Pearl Valley Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Primghar, Iowa on September 30, 2017 at the age of 85.
    Survivors include his son, Mark, of Taneytown, Maryland and son, Phillip and his wife, Valerie from Earlham, Iowa; three grandchildren: Daniel and Alan, sons of Phil and Valerie; and granddaughter, Jennifer, daughter of Mark.
    He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Agnes Schmidt; his wife of 62 years, Ramona Schmidt; and his sister, Betty Frederick and her husband, Ray Frederick.