Jacqueline Sue Schmaltz

Jackie was born on November 3, 1934, in Des Moines to Carl and Gladys Hampton. The second of four children, she grew up in Windsor Heights, which at the time felt like the countryside. She attended Windsor Elementary, Elmwood School, and Roosevelt Junior and Senior High School. When her mother became ill with multiple sclerosis, Jackie took on the responsibility of caring for her, her father, and two younger brothers. From her mother, she learned the skills of homemaking, which she carried throughout her life.

She met the love of her life, Gerald (Jerry) Schmaltz, at a YWCA dance. They became engaged on Christmas Eve 1953 and were married on May 21, 1955, at First United Methodist Church in Des Moines shortly after Jerry’s discharge from the Army. Jackie had worked in the typing pool at Standard Oil Company before their marriage. Together, they raised three children—Kirk, Jeffrey, and Rebecca—on the south side of Des Moines.

Once their children were in school, Jackie worked in various support roles at Equitable Life Insurance, West Des Moines Schools, and Northwestern Bell, retiring in 1992. In 1989, she and Jerry moved to a home they built on land south of Cumming, Iowa, where they lived until relocating to Copperwood in September 2024.

The Schmaltzes were members of St. John’s Catholic Church in Cumming, where Jackie taught catechism. Later, they joined St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Des Moines, where they both served as communion ministers and Jackie was active in the Altar and Rosary Society.

Jackie’s life centered around caring for her family. She was a devoted mother and grandmother, involved in activities like Rainbow (where she was Mother Advisor during Becky’s term as Worthy Advisor), Eastern Star, and Southside Little League, where she organized candy sales and kept uniforms spotless. She and Jerry cherished time with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, attending countless school events and family celebrations.

A gifted crafter, Jackie excelled in cross-stitch, needlepoint, and quilting—completing over 50 quilts, many of which she gave as gifts or donations. She was a talented cook and baker, known for hosting beautifully decorated holidays, especially Christmas, complete with a special tree for her grandchildren. At their Cumming home, she and Jerry kept a large garden and spent many summers canning and making jam.

In retirement, they traveled extensively, visiting Canada, Italy, France, the Panama Canal, and the Holy Land—her favorite trip. They also enjoyed four cruises.

Jackie was preceded in death by her siblings, Patricia, Ronnie, and Denny Hampton. She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Jerry; children: Kirk (Rhonda) Schmaltz of Ames, Jeff (Suzanne) Schmaltz of San Antonio, TX, and Rebecca (Dean) Archer of Ankeny; eight grandchildren: Steph Schmaltz, Katie (Jonathan) Ifergan, Andrew (Alana) Archer, Abby (Jason) Jones, Anna Archer, Allie (Samuel) Currin, Jeremy Schmaltz, and Julia Schmaltz; and four great-grandchildren: Aniston and Aubree Archer, Nellie Warrick, Nova Jones and a 6th great-grandchild from Allie. She is also survived by brother- and sister-in-law Gene and Roseanne Schmaltz, sister-in-law Janet Hampton, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation, funeral mass, and luncheon will be held Friday, May 30, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Des Moines. Visitation begins at 9:30 a.m., with mass at 10:30 a.m. A luncheon will follow at the church. A private family burial will take place on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter.