Marlin E. Schmidt

Moline, Illinois Marlin E. Schmidt, age 71, of Moline died Monday, June 18, 2001 at Trinity Medical Center, Rock Island, of rheumatoid lung disease. Services are 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. John's Lutheran Church, East Moline, where he was a member, with the Reverend Kent Umbarger officiating. Burial is in Memorial Park Cemetery, Moline. Visitation is Thursday from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Trimble Funeral, Moline, and Friday one hour prior to the service at the church. The family requests that memorials be given to St. John's Lutheran Church, the Arthritis Foundation or the M.S. Foundation. Marlin Edward Schmidt was born the third of four children on October 20, 1929, in Sterling, Nebraska, the son of Brunke and Martha (Hauptmeire) Schmidt. The family lived and worked on a series of farms in Nebraska and Iowa before settling in Greenfield, Iowa, where Mr. Schmidt graduated from high school at age 16. He went on to serve in the U.S. Army, working overseas as a court stenographer during the Korean War, then attended Drake University on the GI Bill, graduating with a BS in Accounting. He married Karen Lemon on July 18, 1959, in Des Moines, Iowa. Beginning what would be a 33 year career with Deere & Company, he worked as an auditor and general accountant, then became Deere's director of finance in Monterey, Mexico, where he and Karen lived for five years. Once transferred to Moline, Mr. Schmidt served as controller for John Deere Spreader Works, John Deere Plow Works, and John Deere Plow-Planter Works before being appointed Deere's director of cost and financial analysis, the position he held at his retirement in 1990. Mr. Schmidt's lifelong avocation was painting, especially landscapes and wildlife art. A longtime member and treasurer of Left Bank Art League, he leaves behind a large body of work that includes the design of the stained-glass windows in St. John's Lutheran Church. He enjoyed music, dancing, traveling, and the outdoors, particularly the mountains. Mr. Schmidt is survived by Karen, his beloved wife of 42 years, his siblings, LaVerne Schmidt, Altamont, Missouri, Wilmer Schmidt and Rae Jean Murphy, both of Greenfield, Iowa, his children, Kathleen Schmidt, Chicago, Illinois, Leslie Schmidt and Steve Fors, Evanston, Illinois, Robert and Kari Schmidt, Frisco, Texas, and a grandchild, Bryan Fors, Davenport, Iowa. This obituary may be viewed, and condolences sent to the family, at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com. END OF OBITUARY