Schmidt, Arthur J.

Born in 1926 in Chickasaw County, he grew up in New Hampton, Iowa, and graduated from New Hampton High School.

Arthur began his college career at Iowa State University which was interrupted by his enlistment into Army Specialized Training Program (ASTRP) and subsequent service in World War II. He served two years predominantly in the Philippines and was honorably discharged as a sergeant. He resumed his education at Coe College in Cedar Rapids graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in 1949, the same year he met and married Cleo Steffen. He then joined Iowa National Insurance Co. in Cedar Rapids where he worked for 37 years. Work required family relocation once to Portland, Ore., and again Omaha, Neb., but finally he returned to the home office where he eventually became executive vice president managing underwriting operations and the company's governmental affairs, during this time he was voted the Cedar Rapids Boss of the Year twice. He added to his education to attain the credentials of a Charter Professional Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and in turn was an educator under that program. After Iowa National closed, he worked as a consultant to the State of Iowa Insurance Commission, and then represented Physician's Mutual Insurance as an agent until his retirement.

Arthur was active in the community at his church, St. Andrew's Lutheran; he managed the financial aspects of the CR Cerebral Palsy Telethons; served on the Linn County Human Services Board, and YMCA Board; was a Cub Scout leader; and served for 16 years on the board of Miracles in Motion horse therapy, Swisher. He and wife Cleo were volunteers in a bowling program for the handicapped.

Arthur grew up fishing and hunting, which he continued all his life, he shared fishing trips to Canada with his sons and grandson as well as many hours on his beloved Iowa trout streams, which also included Cleo. He was a prolific gardener, with multiple plots at the Robbins Lake city garden site working alongside daughter Lori and her husband, Ken; he maintained a substantial stamp collection with excellent help from daughter, Joan. He bowled for many years with Cleo, was a lunch hour regular at the downtown YMCA and played a bit of men's slow pitch.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be directed to Discovery Living, Cedar Rapids, or Miracles in Motion, Swisher.

Please leave a message, tribute or memory to Arthur's family on the webpage, under Obituaries.

Published in The Gazette April 27, 2012.