A memorial service will be held 12:00pm Thursday, December 2, 2021 at the Runge Mortuary & Crematory. The family will greet friends from 10:30am until service time on Thursday. Inurnment will follow at National Cemetery Rock Island. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Quad City Symphony, Friends of the National Cemetery c/o Susan Kuehl, 2202 E 60th St. Davenport, IA 52806, or the Friends of Vander Veer. Online condolences may be shared at www.rungemortuary.com.
Marlys was born on December 18, 1923 in Montclair, New Jersey to Waldo and Oneta (nee Hollister) Goetsch. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Edward Schmidt, Jr., her parents, a brother William Goetsch and a sister, Mary Ann Lusk.
Marlys moved to Davenport in 1940, after having lived in Sanford, FL. She graduated in 1942 from Davenport High. Upon graduation she began her secretarial career at the Rock Island Arsenal and Oakland Army Base during WWII. From 1954-57 she and her husband and children lived in Switzerland where she acted as her husband’s secretary when he travelled. After returning to Davenport she assisted at Schmidt Music Co where her husband was president, and ended her career retiring as Executive Secretary at Mast Development Company. Professional in all aspects of her work, Marlys’ work ethic continues to inspire her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Ever busy and active in the community, Marlys was an active Girl Scout for most of her life. In addition to being a troop leader, she volunteered at Camp Conestoga, led the Senior Planning Board, and was a founding member of the Ol’ Biddy Committee, a group of retired Girl Scout volunteers who met monthly for lunch. Marlys was also active in Friends of the Rock Island Arsenal, an organization she loved dearly as she had been married on the Island and her father, Waldo Goetsch, had been Superintendent of the National Cemetery. An accomplished musician, Marlys was a regular at Quad City Symphony concerts for many decades. She also volunteered at the Child Abuse Council and was active in the German American Heritage Center.
A model of community service, strength of character, and resiliency, all her friends and family are filled with gratitude for the life of Marlys Oneta Goetsch Schmidt.
She is survived by her children, Marlys (Dedi) Walker (Bruce) of Iowa City, Edward Schmidt, III (Ha Nguyen) of Clinton, Catherine B.Boone (Charles) of Wheaton, IL, Lisa Ann Tank (Nathan) of DeWitt. Grandchildren Nicholas E.Walker (Kristen) of Coralville, IA, Anthony D. Walker of Woodstock, IL, Sunday M. Walker of Iowa City, Edward Schmidt IV and Eric Schmidt both of San Jose, CA, Jennifer C Newman (David) of Wheaton, IL, Amalia M. Beer (Eric) of Schaumburg IL. and Great-grandchildren Ava, Breanne and Addison Walker, Jacob Schmidt, Taylor and Chase Newman, Ethan and Katelynn Beer.
