Wava Schmidt
November 12, 1936 ~ August 25, 2020
Wava Schmidt, 83, of Hiawatha, formally of Lisbon, passed away Tuesday, August 25, 2020. Visitation: 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, September 2, 2020, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon. Private Graveside Service: 10 a.m. Thursday, September 3, 2020, at the Lisbon Cemetery, by Pastor Terra Amundson. Friends and extended family are invited to watch the graveside service via Facebook live stream. Please search for and request to join the Remembering Wava Schmidt private Facebook group for more information.
Wava Irene Palmer was born November 12, 1936, in Springville, Iowa, to Samuel and Jeanette (Wendler) Palmer. She graduated from Springville High School, and received her teaching certificate from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls in 1956. Her high school sweetheart, Jerry Schmidt, graduated from Iowa State University, and they were married September 1, 1956. Jerry's service in the Air Force and corporate America perpetuated a number of moves including Texas; California; Nevada; Iowa Falls, Iowa; St. Louis, Missouri; Newtown, Connecticut; Greensboro, North Carolina; Hutchinson, Minnesota, and finally to the Schmidt family farm in Lisbon, Iowa. Over their travels, Wava taught elementary school in several locations, was a homemaker, and returned to college to complete her Bachelor's Degree. Amongst all of this, Wava and Jerry were blessed with three children.
Wava learned quickly that to get acquainted, one must get involved and give of one's time and talents and found herself surrounded by wonderful lifetime friends. She belonged to many groups over the years, including the American Association of University Women (AAUW), League of Women Voters, Federated Women's Club, PEO Chapter DT, Martelle Century Club, Twin Cities Bloomers Garden Club, and a lifetime member of the Linn County Master Gardeners. She has been a lifelong United Methodist Church member in every city they lived, and enjoyed being an active congregate, teaching Sunday School, Bible School, serving in United Methodist Women and on various church committees. Wava's faith was always an important aspect of her life. Her joyous interests included gardening, entertaining, learning new things, and teaching others.
Survivors include her children, Janice (Dan) Mussell, Robins, IA; John (Christine) Schmidt, Kamas, UT; and Carrie Hubbard, Raleigh, NC; granddaughter, Kathryn, and grandson, Taylor Hubbard; a number of nieces and nephews, and extended family. She will be missed by her cherished family and friends.
Wava was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jerry; siblings, Leo Palmer, Nyle Palmer, and Martha Foster; and son-in-law, Mike Hubbard.
The family would like to thank the staff of UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's Hospital over the years for the care of Wava in the medical arena, orthopedics, psychiatry, and on the inpatient hospice unit. A special thanks to Dr. Jason Booth for his ongoing care of Wava.
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Schmidt Family – Our sincere sympathies go out to you. Wava was such a joy to our family, everything from the neighborhood pond parties to her driving my dad around the countryside while they were at Cherry Ridge. I’m really glad they survived those jaunts. I know Keith was thrilled to get out and was so jealous that Wava had ‘wheels’. She had such a memory, even as she was failing, always asking about my son that went to Duke seminary. She was caring and classy. Blessings to your family. Doug and Mary Morningstar
Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time
Mark and I spent many years sharing a love of country living , gardens and trees with Wava and Jerry. They were great role models for us .
Our sympathy to your family. I am honored to call Wava my friend. I met her when I joined the Mt. Vernon garden club about 20 years ago. We soon became friends and had many good times together. She was a natural teacher and shared her wisdom on gardening readily. She taught me about making winter arrangements, and I was honered when she asked me to make some for her several times. I will miss her warm smile and friendly manner… but won’t forget her.
Thank you for making memories with me in my childhood Aunt Wava, and bringing Iowa closer to my heart. Rest in peace.
Our sympathy to Wava’s family. We were fortunate enough to meet Jerry and Wava years ago when we were building our house and needed a temporary rental property. We were the last ones to live there before the big ‘remodel’. It was always fun to catch up with them whenever possible, but especially when it involved an event at the house, garden or pond. Wava had such talent with her garden. She always had good stories to tell of their escapades in many locations. Again, our deepest sympathy. Steve and Linda Noll
Mrs. Schmidt was my 5th grade teacher at Park Elementary in Hutchinson, MN. I remember her vivacious spirit and how much she made us feel special. I now teach 4th grade down the hall from that very classroom where she taught me. I can still feel her warmth here, and I will hold those memories with her close in my heart. I am sorry to hear of her passing. You have my deepest sympathies…Nesha Withers
With deepest sympathy, we are so sorry for your loss. We just came across the obituary now and are very sorry to respond so long after the fact.