Roger Keith Schmidt

Roger K. Schmidt, age 95, of Holstein, passed away on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at the Good Samaritan Society of Holstein.  A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, November 06, 2024 at 11:00 AM at the United Methodist Church of Holstein with the Pastor Betty Kiboko officiating.  A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service starting at 10:00 AM at the church.  Private family burial will be at the Mt. Hope Cemetery of Battle Creek with military rites conducted by the American Legion Dessel-Schmidt Post #225 of Holstein.

Roger Keith Schmidt was born November 1, 1928 in Battle Creek, Iowa to Fred and Enid (Derr) Schmidt. He attended rural school in Woodbury County and then graduated High School at Battle Creek.  He attended Iowa State College and was drafted into the United States Army and served in the Korean Conflict where he drove an army tank.

Roger was united in marriage to Rebecca Spiese on February 16, 1953 in Battle Creek. They were blessed with four children. They raised their family on the family farm, living there until 2001 when they moved into Holstein.

Roger was a dedicated farmer for 48 years. He was proud of his contour and strip farming. One of Roger’s favorite sayings was, “Take care of the land and it will take care of you.” Over the years he raised a large cow/calf Black Angus herd. He was on the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Committee (ASCC) where he surveyed and mapped crop ground and was the Ida County Soil Conservation district commissioner. He also served as a past director of the Holstein Cooperative Elevator.

He was a former member of the First Presbyterian church of Battle Creek and a current member of the United Methodist Church of Holstein. He enjoyed square dancing with his wife, gardening and tending to his raspberries and having coffee and cookies. He loved road maps and planning out all of the family trips. Roger was a longtime member of the Holstein Kiwanis Club and also served on the Board of Directors for the Ida County Rural Electric Association (REA).

Roger is survived by his wife, Rebecca of Holstein, IA; children, Anthony Schmidt (Judi Calhoon), Sara (Roger) Cope, David (Janet) Schmidt and George (Donna) Schmidt; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brother, Duane Schmidt of Houston, TX.

He was preceded in death by his parents.