Verna Jean (Weems) Schmiedel passed away on Monday, July 30, 2018. At the time of her death, Jean was a resident of the Chautauqua Guest Home in Charles City.
A funeral service for Jean Schmiedel will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, August 4, 2018 at Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City with Pastor Forrest Cornelius from First Congregational Church officiating.
A gathering of family and friends will be one hour prior to the service on Saturday at Hauser Funeral Home.
Jean was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dr. Edward E. Schmiedel. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and R. J. Ley of Quincy, Illinois; two sons, Edward Andrew (Andy) Schmiedel of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Dr. James Schmiedel of Charles City; and five grandchildren, Nathan and Kelsey Ley of New York, Daniel Ley of Chicago and Makenna, Emma, and Nolan Schmiedel, all of Charles City.
Jean spent her youth in Vinton, Des Moines, Shell Rock and Waterloo, Iowa before attending the University of Iowa where she was a member of the Highlander Dance Team. She graduated with a degree in Education. While at Iowa, she met Ed Schmiedel, a young medical student; they were married in 1953 and their blessed union lasted 57 years until his death in 2010.
Jean raised two young children while Ed served in the Army stationed in Pueblo, Colorado and did his residency in Fresno, California. The couple returned to their native Iowa and Ed established his practice in Charles City beginning in 1957.
Jean was an extremely active volunteer in and around Charles City. She was twice elected to the School Board and served one term as School Board President; she was nominated for Woman of The Year in recognition of the work she did in this capacity. She was a founding member of the National 19th Amendment Society, a non-profit corporation dedicated to the preservation of the childhood home of Carrie Lane Chapman Catt, and historical landmark. She served on the City Improvement Board for over 50 years.
She was a loyal member of PEO and twice served as the local chapter’s President. She loved playing bridge and was an avid reader.
With her husband, Jean traveled the World with trips to such locations as China, France, and Turkey. She was often asked to relate their travel experiences to local groups and routinely made presentations to students in the elementary and high school.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a memorial donation to the National 19th Amendment Society or the Charles City PEO General Scholarship Fund.
Hauser Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, in Charles City, is in charge of local arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hauserfh.com.
