He was baptized and confirmed at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church west of Audubon and attended rural school, Douglas Township No.5. He worked for different farmers for several years.

On January 5, 1938, he was united in marriage to Margaret Porsch at her parents' home in Lincoln Township, Audubon County, Iowa. They farmed around the Audubon and Fiscus areas for several years before purchasing their own farm in 1949 in Douglas Township. He retired from farming in 1966 and then was an insurance agent for Danish Mutual for 18 years until he retired at the age of 70. They moved into Audubon in December of 1984 and he maintained his own home until he became a resident of the Friendship Home in May of 1988. He was a life-long member of the Ebenezer Lutheran Church and active in many phases of church work, a member of the Farm Bureau, a director of the rural phone system; and a cemetery trustee for Douglas Township and the Ebenezer Lutheran Cemeteries.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his brothers-in-law: Emanuel Petersen, Herman Porsch; Otto Forsch, Richard Forsch and his sister-in-law, Anna and her husband Lawrence Petersen.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret Schmidt of Audubon, Iowa; his daughters and their spouses: JoAnn and Roger Barten of Audubon, Iowa; Phyllis and Tom Hoffman of Marne, Iowa; special nephew: Robert Froyd of Lakewood, California; his grandchildren: Douglas Barten of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Dennis Barten of Stockton, California; Gary Barten and Kristi Barten, both of Audubon, Iowa; Jerry Hoffman, Brian Hoffman, Steven Hoffman, and Jennifer Hoffman, all of Marne, Iowa; his sister Lucille Petersen of Glidden, Iowa; his brother and his wife, Victor and Irene Schmidt of Audubon, Iowa; his sisters-in-law; Marie Froyd and Elsie Porsch, both of Audubon, Iowa; Erna and her husband Ray Schultz of Rathdrum, Idaho; Darlene Porsch of Granger, Iowa; his brother-in-law and his wife: Arnold and Katie Porsch of Indian Wells, California; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.