Richard Merl Schmidt, 78, of Marshalltown, and formerly of Malcom, Tama and Des Moines, passed away Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. A Memorial Celebration of Life Gathering will be held Thursday, September 17, 2026 from 12-2 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama. Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in rural Tama.

Richard was born on August 12, 1948, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the son of Merl and Wilma (Weitzell) Schmidt.

He graduated from Grinnell High School in 1966.

Richard served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, working as a Cobra Helicopter Electrician.

On November 24, 1967, he was united in marriage to Marsha Corporan in rural Toledo, Iowa. They lived in Virginia and Texas while he was in the Army. They enjoyed boating and camping with the family when the kids were young, and fondly remember vacations in Texas, Colorado, Black Hills, South Dakota, and the Wisconsin Dells. Their weekend jaunts frequently included Branson, Missouri, as well as Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Nebraska.

Richard worked in Electronics and Assembly at Fisher Controls in Marshalltown for more than thirty-years. After retirement, he moved to Des Moines and worked for U.S. Cellular. Even when computers weren’t common, Richard had to get one and take it apart, just to keep up to date with technology.

Survivors include his son, Marc (Jennifer) Schmidt of Charter Oak, IA; daughter-in-law, Lisa Schmidt of Albion; grandsons, Jacob, and Nathan Schmidt; siblings, Mary Lynn (Perry) Thompson of Newton, and John Charles (Virginia) Schmidt of Tama; and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Marsha Jean in 2019; son, Eric Schmidt; grandson, Braydon Schmidt; brother, Robert Schmidt; and a sister in infancy.

Memorials may be directed to the family.