City pauses to remember Schmidt

Al Schmidt

Spencer City Hall will be closed from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday as staff members remember a longtime Spencer Airport Board member and public servant.

Warner Funeral Home in Spencer is in charge of the arrangements for 84-year-old Al Schmidt, who passed away Sunday, May 3, at St. Luke Lutheran Home in Spencer. Visitation will begin at 11:30 a.m. today, with the family present from 6-8 p.m.

The 10:30 a.m. funeral services will take place Thursday at Bethany Lutheran Church in Spencer. Burial, including military services, will follow at 1 p.m. at the First Reformed Cemetery in Everly.

Born on a farm in rural Everly, Schmidt turned a township education and military background into a passion for flying and a legacy of service.

The World War II veteran's influence was felt on Spencer City Council, from 1962 to 1964, and various municipal advisory groups. He helped screen prospective police officers during 27 years on the city's Civil Service Commission. The American Legion, Clay County Tax Review Board and Toastmasters also benefited from his guidance.

But first and foremost, Schmidt's passion was flying -- family members call it a lifelong affliction. He loved seeing the checkered patterns of Iowa farmland from the cockpit.

He took on roles with the Experimental Aircraft Association and is perhaps best known for his work as a trustee on the Spencer Municipal Airport Board. Schmidt was appointed in 1994 and will leave his fifth term unfinished.

"Al was extremely dedicated to the city of Spencer and particularly to the airport," said Dr. Harry Rasdal, who was appointed to the board a year after Schmidt began serving. "That was something that was very close to him because of his life as a concrete contractor. He had so many things to offer to the airport."

Schmidt was hawkish about the quality of the runways and taxi-ways and other concrete surfaces. Fellow trustees came to count on his knowledge of concrete bids and maintenance. He was a central contract person for many of the infrastructure upgrades at the airport.

"He kept all of those in tip-top shape," Rasdal said. "He would ride people to try to get them to understand the importance of maintaining that at a high level."

Even as his health declined in recent months, he called on colleagues to get him to board meetings. The airport was important to Schmidt and "he wanted to be a part of that," Rasdal said.

"Al would work real hard to convince you he was right," he added. "Sometimes, he was not, but he still would persuade you -- or try to. He believed in what he was doing and, for that, I admired him."

His faith was also important -- Schmidt and his wife, Mary Jean, were active members of Bethany Lutheran Church. The family has asked that memorials go to the benefit of his church's Tanzania well-drilling project.

"He was just as honest and fair as anybody could possibly be," Rasdal said. "He worked to make sure everything was on an even level. Nobody got an advantage when Al was making the decisions."

He is survived by his wife, Mary Jean, of Spencer, his sons, Mark and Kirby Schmidt and their families as well as his daughter Julie Schmidt and her family.

Schmidt also is survived by four brothers Dale, Richard, Walter and Robert and their families; sister-in-law, Frances Payne, brother-in-law Donald Kuhn. their families, many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.