Konnie M. Schmidt

Konnie M. (Buls) Schmidt, age 70, of Elma, IA passed away on Thursday, January 6, 2022 at her home in Elma. Private funeral services will be held at Conway-Markham Funeral Home in Elma, IA with Pastor Paul Phillips officiating. Burial will be held at Howard Cemetery in Elma. Online condolences may be left at www.conway-markhamfh.com. Memorials may be directed to the family. A Celebration of Life gathering this summer for ALL to attend will be announced at a later date. Konnie was born May 4th, 1951, daughter of Clarence and Alvina (Groth) Buls of Saratoga, IA. As child, Konnie learned how to play the piano and organ. She graduated from Riceville High School, where she played basketball and sang in the choir. After high school, she worked as a secretary at Lutheran Mutual. A young man who knew her from church asked her on a Valentine’s date. A few months later, Kenneth Schmidt proposed to Konnie on her birthday. They were united in marriage November 28th, 1970 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Elma. The couple made their home outside of Elma by Lylah’s Marsh, where Kenneth continued to farm. They welcomed six children: Karl, Kristie, Keith, Kurt, Korwin, and Kimberly. Konnie was a devoted mother who was active in every part of her children’s lives. She grew and maintained a large garden, and cared for her children while also playing organ at St. Peters Lutheran Church, and playing the pipe organ at Wartburg College was one highlight. She had a love for making others smile, and she expressed that love through the food and baked goods she made. Many enjoyed her desserts: chocolate zucchini cake, gooey bars, apple pie, pumpkin bars, cherry squares, angel food cake, poke-n-pour cake… and her Swiss rolls were a hot commodity at bake sales. Her homemade, hand-crafted rolls were a continual request. The love and effort simply put into those is pretty remarkable, factoring in all the other tasks on her plate with six active kids. Konnie took on side jobs when needed and worked at the Riceville Recorder for nearly 35 years. Most people in the surrounding communities knew her, as she sold ads for the newspaper and helped out at her daughter Kristie’s chiropractic practice in LeRoy, MN. She enjoyed being outside and taking time to enjoy God’s creation… she loved nature… plants and animals, especially watching the sunset and watching for bald eagles, cardinals and goldfinches around the area. There were always dogs and cats around the farm. She had a green thumb, growing many indoor plants besides flowers and the garden outside. Konnie loved her family. She loved to help her kids learn new things, and was never too busy to help with homework, projects, or to answer inquisitive questions. Her voice stood out in the crowd, cheering for her children. She characteristically had a smile on her face and loved playing cards and spending time with family. She was humble. She cared deeply about the well-being of others, often visiting those in the rest home. She made time weekly to eat out with friends and tried to make every one of her grandchildren’s events over the years. She lived life to the fullest with a youthful, kid-like spirit right up until her last days, playing kickball with grandkids and children on Christmas day. She loved Jesus, and was sure to let others know that Jesus is the reason to find hope in any season, not just at Christmas. Konnie’s tender heart, smile, hugs, and laugh will be most missed by her husband Kenneth of Elma, her children, Karl (Christina) Schmidt of Bettendorf, IA, Kristie Schmidt of Elma, IA, Keith (Molly) Schmidt of Cedar Falls, IA, Kurt (Trisha) Schmidt of Knoxville, TN, Korwin (Nicole) Schmidt of Cottage Grove, MN, Kimberly (Justin) Redig of Marion, IA; her 11 grandchildren Mac, Grace, Mark, Emma, Kloe, Layten, Laynie, Gavin, Hailey, Maverick, and Hope; her brothers Lanny (Janet) Buls of Independence, IA, Gary (Shirley) Buls of St. Cloud, MN, and Edward Buls of Riceville, IA; her sisters Leona (Doug) Leist of Lime Springs, IA and Verla (Jim) Lensch of Lime Springs, IA; In-Laws: Myron Schmidt, Robert Schmidt, Linda (Dave) Hovey, Karen (Gary)Lueck, Wanda (Dave) Westphal, John Jay (Barb) Schmidt, Laura (Nathan) Mcgee and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Alvina Buls, and brothers, Dean and William Buls.