Verdell Schmalle

VERDELL CLARE SCHMALLE

Fayette

Verdell C. Schmalle, 80, of Fayette, died Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, at Palmer Lutheran Health Center in West Union.

Memorial services will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 10, at the United Methodist Church in Fayette with the Rev. Mee Kang officiating. Visitation will be from 3 to

6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Fayette and for one hour preceding services at the church on Monday.

Instead of flowers, memorials may be made in his name to the Dollars for Scholars program at North Fayette Valley Schools in West Union.

Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com.

Verdell Clare, son of Samuel and Nellie (Merchant) Schmalle, was born Dec. 16, 1935, in Thornton, Iowa. He received his education in Thornton, graduating from Thornton High School in 1953. On June 2, 1957, he was united in marriage with Bonnie Aamodt in Joice, Iowa. Verdell went on to receive his Bachelor of Science degree from Morningside College in Sioux City in 1958. He would later complete his master's degree from the University of Iowa in 1964.

Verdell spent his working career as an educator. He taught and coached in Dayton (1959-60), Martelle (1961), and Ventura (1962-68) before moving to Fayette in 1968 and serving as principal of Fayette Community Schools until 1984. In 1984, he began working for the Iowa Commission for the Blind as a counselor and did so until retiring in 1998.

Verdell was recognized by the Governor's Committee as the state's Handicapped Employee of the Year in 1985. Verdell's work as an educator, coach and counselor was an example and inspiration to his students and earned the respect of all who knew Mr. Schmalle.

Verdell was a member of the local Lions Club International and was recently honored as a 50-year member. He was a longtime member of the United Methodist Church in Fayette, where he served on the Church Council. He also was a member of the Iowa Retired School Personnel Association and Big Rock Country Club, where he enjoyed playing cards with his friends.

Verdell learned how to sail at the age of 55 and following retirement enjoyed traveling. He never missed an opportunity to listen to his favorite sports teams, the Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeyes.

In addition to his wife, Bonnie of Fayette, he is survived by his three children, Verlynn (Anne) Schmalle of Wausau, Wis., Margaret Schmalle (Pat McArtor) of Iowa City and Marlys (Steven) Franzen of Hawkeye; seven grandchildren, Angela (Jesse) Craycraft, Greta (Dan) Backman, Andie (Curtis) Davis, Kayla Schmalle, Kimberly Kallis and Max and Gabriel Caballero; special friend and companion, Bonnie Lindquist of Fayette; sisters-in-law, Beulah Schmalle of Belmond and Myrna Langerud of Des Moines; and several nieces and nephews.