Daniel A. Schmidt, age 83 of Cherokee, IA, passed away Thursday, October 9, 2025 at Accura Healthcare in Cherokee, IA. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cherokee, IA. Pastor Merritt Demski will officiate. Burial will be held at Saint John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Galva, IA. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Military rites will be conducted by the V.F.W. L.A. Wescott Post 2253 and the Cherokee American Legion. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.greenwoodfuneral.com.
Daniel Albert Schmidt was born on December 12, 1941, to LuVerne and Minnie (Fritz) Schmidt at their home in rural Holstein. He grew up in Holstein, was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith, and graduated from Holstein High School in 1961. He and his twin brother, Dave, were known as the “Schmutzy Twins” taking turns pushing each other in their red wagon around town and trading seats in school.
Dan married his best friend, Karen A. Otto, on June 4, 2000, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cherokee. They celebrated their 25 years of wedding bliss on June 4, 2025. Dan loved marrying into the “Otto family” and adored his four kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Dan and Karen enjoyed attending their grandchildren’s school functions and athletics activities. Together they took yearly family vacations and loved snow-birding in the Las Vegas, NV and Arizona areas. They especially enjoyed playing cards with friends! Dan enjoyed going to car races with his friends to Indianapolis Time Trials for 15 years. He loved camping with their 5th wheel and traveling where they met many wonderful friends along the way.
Dan and Karen enjoyed fishing in his 16-foot fishing boat. He always said, “Karen taught me how to fish.” Those who went fishing with him always said “go with Dan, it’s a good time.” Dan enjoyed bingo, especially when his brothers were all around. He loved his family and his acquired family.
Throughout his life, Dan was a conscientious, hard worker. He worked for Schwan’s in Minnesota for several years then came to Cherokee to work for Graham Tire. He held several jobs before beginning his career at Love Tire Shop. Dan retired from Love’s after over 30 years of always putting his customers’ needs first. After retiring from the tire shop, Dan drove Siouxland Transit bus for several years. He was always so patient with his clients. He was respected and loved by all!
Outside of working, Dan and Karen spent much of their time with family, friends, and their faith community. They loved traveling to support their children and grandchildren in their numerous activities. Countless evenings were spent socializing with friends and relatives at coffee, bingo and playing cards. Dan and Karen were active members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cherokee.
Dan was preceded in death by his parents LuVerne and Minnie, brothers Jim and Richard Schmidt, and twin brother David; grandparents; sisters and brothers in law, Linda, Marilyn and Rich Auen; father and mother in-law, Roy and Anne Krick; nephew, Rob and niece, Laura.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife Karen of Cherokee, Iowa; three sisters-in-law Elaine Schmidt, Kathy Schmidt and Sharilyn Flem; Stepchildren Traci Billings of Omaha, Brian (Lisa) Otto of Denison, Jamie (Shelley) Otto of Bellevue, NE, Daniel Otto of Cherokee; nine grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many friends.
