Donald “Don” E. Schmidt, age 88, of Holstein

Donald “Don” E. Schmidt, age 88, of Holstein, Iowa, passed away on Friday, September 27, 2024 at Gracewell, An Eventide Community in Denison, Iowa.

A funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m., Thursday, October 3, 2024, at the Holstein United Methodist Church of Holstein, Iowa. Pastor Betty Kiboko will speak.

Burial will follow at Ida Grove Cemetery in Ida Grove, Iowa. Military rites will be conducted by the Dessel-Schmidt Post No. 225 of the American Legion of Holstein, Iowa.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Holstein United Methodist Church of Holstein, Iowa.

Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa, is in charge of funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Donald Eugene Schmidt, the son of Mary (Boysen) and Alfred Schmidt, Sr., was born October 4, 1935 in Ida Grove, Iowa. He received his education at Ida Grove High School, graduating with the class of 1953. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Army, where he was stationed in Japan and El Paso, Texas. He was a loyal patriot and was proud to have served our country.

After his honorable discharge from the service in 1956, he returned to Ida Grove and began a lifelong career in farming. On December 9, 1956, Donald was united in marriage to the love of his life, Darlene Prosch, at the Ida Grove Methodist Church. The couple was blessed with three beautiful children: Doug, Dana and Dawn.

In addition to serving our country, Don also served as a trustee of Logan Township, was a member of Alpine Masonic Lodge #471 of Holstein, and served on the 4-H Ida County Council with his wife. He was also an active member of the United Methodist Church in Holstein, where he volunteered to teach Sunday School, represented the church as a lay delegate at its annual conference, and chaired several committees, including the Board of Directors, the Governing Council, the Financial department. committee and SPPRC. Don taught us the value of service to others, hard work and always doing what is right.

Through his actions, Don learned the importance of enjoying every day. He enjoyed gardening, reading and cheering for his beloved sports teams: the Iowa State Cyclones and Minnesota Vikings. Don never missed an opportunity for adventure. In fact, he spent his 80th birthday skydiving with some of his children and grandchildren! He was known for his playful attitude and ever-present smile. Everyone had fun and felt loved in his presence. At weddings he could be found tearing up the dance floor to “Rock Around the Clock” and slow dancing with Darlene, his sweetheart of 67 years.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife Darlene Schmidt of Holstein, IA; children Doug

(Julie) Schmidt of Denison, IA, Dana (Kevin) Apel of New Braunfels, TX and Dawn Schmidt of Rapid City, SD; grandchildren Calisa (Sam) Stark of Universal City, TX, Ashton Schmidt of Los Angeles, CA, Cara (Austin) Wozniak of Needville, TX, Kylie (Ryan) Nelson of Indianola, IA; and Michala (Tyler) Covington of San Marcos, Texas, and great-grandchildren Piper and Devin Stark, Carter and Cooper Wozniak, Cecil and Juniper Nelson; many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Mary and Alfred Schmidt, Sr.; siblings Alfred “Bud” (Vernette) Schmidt, Jr., DeWayne Schmidt, Earl Dean (Ruth) Schmidt, Arlene (Lloyd) Babcock and Roger (Carol) Schmidt; in-laws William and Alma Prosch; brothers-in-law Dale (Crete) Prosch and Donald Prosch.