Paula passed away Sunday, June 9, 2024, at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa, after an extended illness, with family by her side. Lakeview Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.

Paula was born Nov. 8, 1961, in Fairmont, Minn., daughter of Corwin and Sherry Schmidt. She attended K-12 in Ceylon, Minn., graduating in 1980. She was valedictorian of her class and edited the yearbook.

Paula attended Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, for two years, graduating summa cum laude in 1982, where she was also initiated into the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society. She was a member of the esteemed Waldorf choir that traveled to Norway. She then transferred to Augustana College in Sioux Falls, where she earned her teaching degree in 1984. She was a member of the Augustana Honor Society and was chosen to appear in the prestigious 1984 Who’s Who of College Students directory. She earned scholarships at both Waldorf and Augustana.

Paula married Stephen Suter on Oct. 10, 1987, and moved to the Iowa City area. She managed The Wedding Party bridal shop for 10 years and was a manager at Casual Corner for a year. She then taught at Clear Creek Amana High School full-time for many years. She pioneered a new closed-circuit TV class, teaching students in other towns from her base in Clear Creek Amana High School. Paula was also a substitute teacher for many years in the Iowa City area. Her most rewarding position was with Transitions, an organization that helps high school graduates with disabilities to become more independent.

Paula was a favorite of all who knew her. She was beautiful, smart, wickedly funny, and no one was better at telling a story. She was an accomplished musician on both piano and organ, and had a lovely singing voice. She loved to read and was a wizard at the NY Times Sunday crosswords. She was an excellent teacher and never met a child who didn’t adore her. We will all deeply miss her bright smile and her loving heart.

Paula is survived by her husband, Stephen; her mother, Sherry Schmidt; many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, various in-laws and treasured friends.

She was pre-deceased by her father, Corwin Schmidt; her sister, Susan; her paternal grandparents, Tony and Marge Schmidt; and her maternal grandparents, Leonard and Ella Niss.

www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net

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