Obituary of Anita K. Sehr

Anita K. Sehr, age 94 longtime resident of Johnson County died Monday, October 21, 2024, at Hills Atrium Village.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, October 26^th. at 10:30 am at the Sharon Center United Methodist Church.  Private graveside services will have been held at the St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery near Sharon Center.  In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in Anita’s memory.  

Anita Kathryn Schmidtke was born July 26, 1930, in Humboldt, Iowa, the daughter of Reinhart and Anna (Kraft) Schmidtke. Following graduation from Humboldt High School, she worked at Bankers Life in Des Moines before coming to Iowa City where she attended the University of Iowa majoring in Social Work.  She was employed by the University of Iowa until 1966.

Anita was united in marriage to Donald F. Sehr, February 13, 1954, in Des Moines.  They made their home on the Sehr century family farm in Sharon Center.  She was active in the Johnson County Farm Bureau, serving as women’s chairperson several years; then served on the board of directors for Farm Bureau and became the first woman to be elected as Johnson County President, she also served on The State Resolutions Committee. Anita served on the Johnson County Board of Health for six years was the Rural Representative on the Coralville Library Foundation Board, and was the Johnson County Civil Service Commission Secretary for many years. In 2013, she was inducted into the Democratic Hall of Fame. She taught Sunday school and Bible school at Sharon Center United Methodist Church She was first and foremost, a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Time spent with her grandchildren provided her the greatest joy. 

Her family includes her son, Jerry (Kristen) Sehr; grandchildren, Kelsey (Austin) Birely, Nicholas (Paisley) Sehr, Kate Sehr and Jordan Sehr; and Anita’s brother, Bud Schmidtke.