Gerald "Jerry" Schmidt was born on October 19, 1940, on a farm near St. Helena, Nebraska. He was the second child of Henry and Cecilia Schmidt. Jerry passed away on March 22, 2024.
Jerry attended Immaculate Conception Catholic School grade school and attended two years at St. Helena Public High School and finished his education at Yankton High School graduating in 1958.
He primarily worked on their family farm and a few odd jobs until joining the United States Air Force. He served honorably in the Air Force for four years with the majority of his time serving in Alaska.
Jerry married Sharon Sudbeck on January 11, 1969, in Hartington, Nebraska at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. They moved to Fort Collins, Colorado shortly after their wedding and Jerry began working for the Fort Collins Street Department where he retired after 40 years.
Jerry loved farming and converted a large portion of their back yard into a vegetable garden. Each year his crop production so plentiful that he shared much of his produce with friends and neighbors, while still having enough for the family. Sharon commented that they never purchased vegetables from the store. In addition, he loved farming so much that he spent many summer vacations back on his family farm helping with field work, as well as playing weekend farmer helping friends on a nearby farm with their field work.
Jerry is survived by his wife Sharon, daughter Rhonda and her husband Brian, son Robert, granddaughter Brenna and her husband Jordan, granddaughter Rianne, and eleven brothers and sisters. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Cecilia and brother Vernon, Vernon's son Craig, and niece Tiffany.
Visitation and Vigil service will be held at 6:00pm, Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Parish located at 5450 S. Lemay Ave. Fort Collins, Colorado 80525.
Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 am Thursday, April 4, 2024, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Parish with reception to follow.
Interment will be at Resthaven Memory Gardens at 11:00 am Friday, April 5, 2024, in the Victory Garden located at 8426 US-287, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525