Jerry was born on March 4, 1936, to Stanley and Marjorie Overton in Lee County, Iowa. He grew up and attended school in Donnelson, Iowa where his parents farmed, and his father was also a turnkey at the Fort Madison Penitentiary.

Jerry graduated from highschool a year early and then attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. While in college, he met his future wife Judy Doyle — also a student– and on September 4, 1955, they married.

In 1957 they welcomed their first child, Michael, and three years later, they added their daughter, Jennifer. In 1966, the family moved to Atlantic, Iowa, where Jerry worked as Quality Control Manager at Walnut Grove.

In addition to always supporting his family, Jerry had a variety of hobbies. He especially enjoyed fishing and hunting for most of his life, and spent many days at antique shops and sales hunting for “treasures.” He also played cards, played the piano, read old books, and tended to his yard.

He was very attached to the many family pets over the years, and often sat with a cat on his lap. The neighborhood stray cats and other various creatures were fortunate to live near Jerry, who kept them all well fed and provided shelter for them in his backyard.

Jerry was preceded in death by his wife, Judy, who passed away in 2023. He is survived by his son, Michael (Selena); daughter Jennifer (Lynette); grandchildren Stephanie (Mike), Joe, and Trilby; and great-grandchild, Thomas.

Jerry’s remains will be laid to rest in the spring with his wife’s at the family plot in Clay Grove Cemetery, West Point, Iowa.

Any memorials may be designated to the Atlantic Animal Shelter in honor of Jerry, and they may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.