Schmidt, Verna Belle

Verna Belle Schmidt, 91, of Springfield, Ill., formerly of Princeton, Ill., died at 8:55 a.m. Sunday, March 18, 2012, at Auburn Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

Verna Belle was born Oct. 3, 1920, in Guernsey, Iowa, the daughter of Ernest G. and Esther B. Bleedner Merck. She married John W. Schmidt on Nov. 25, 1941, in Ottumwa, Iowa. He preceded her in death on Jan. 17, 2008.

Verna Belle was a graduate of Guernsey High School and attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She taught in a country school in Iowa for a short time before her marriage. In Princeton, she worked in the office of Pioneer Hi-bred Corn Co., until her retirement. She was a member of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Princeton. She also served as organist for St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Princeton. Verna Belle enjoyed music, sewing, reading, golfing, corresponding with friends and relatives and especially being with her family.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Mireta Niebuhr; and one brother, Larry Merck.

She is survived by her daughter, Julie S. Hubbard of Springfield; two grandsons, Joel (wife Sarah) Hubbard of St. Charles, Mo., and Zachary (wife Amanda) Hubbard of Springfield; four great-grandchildren, Nolan, Sydney, Kaitlin and Kelsey; brother, Marvin Merck of Anamosa; sister-in-law, Margaret Merck of Victor; brother-in-law, Donald Schmidt of Lunenburg, Mass.; and several nieces and nephews.

Cremation was accorded by Lincoln Land Cremation Society. A memorial service will be held in Princeton at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, 416 Dover Rd., Princeton, IL 61356.

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Published in The Gazette March 21, 2012.