Craig Lee Schmidt, 67, of Grinnell, IA, died on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at UnityPoint Hospice - Taylor House in Des Moines, Iowa.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell, Iowa. Family will greet friends during a visitation beginning one hour prior to the service at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the family for future designation. Memorials may be mailed in care of Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.

Craig was born on February 9, 1959, in Grinnell, Iowa, to Harold Lee and Germaine Marie (Facile) Schmidt. He graduated from Grinnell High School with the Class of 1977 and continued his education at Marshalltown Community College. Craig was married to Cindy (Kriegel) Plate from 1981 to 2008. Together, they were blessed with three children: Jesse, Cherie, and Chad.

Craig began his career as a tool and die maker, a skill that laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial leap in 1995 when he founded Streetrod Productions, Inc. Under his leadership, the company became renowned for its luxury custom golf carts, reflecting his perfectionist touch and innovative vision.

Craig was also known for his generous spirit and deep commitment to giving back. He hosted numerous charity events, often raffling off his custom streetrod carts to raise funds for local hospice organizations. Supporting these causes was especially meaningful to him, and he took great pride in using his talents to make a difference in the lives of others.

Beyond his professional achievements, Craig was a passionate artist and craftsman. He found joy in drawing, painting, and building streetrods, including his first project at age 16, a T-bucket. He also enjoyed cooking, sharing stories, and jokes; he was always ready to make others laugh. Craig had a deep appreciation for blues music and enjoyed watching comedians.

Family was central to Craig's life. He was a source of encouragement, often inspiring his family to pursue their dreams, no matter how lofty, with hard work and dedication. He cherished time spent with his grandchildren, teaching them to embrace creativity just as he had throughout his life. Many cherished memories were made traveling with family to Florida and other destinations.

Craig is survived by his children, Jesse (Brooke) Schmidt of Montezuma, Cherie (Teemu) Koivisto of Tampere, Finland, and Chad (Karley) Schmidt of Montezuma; his grandchildren, Bryn and Jade Schmidt, Journey, Jonah, and Josie Schmidt, and Niko Koivisto; his sisters, Denise Smith, Trisha (Dave) Hayes, and Susie Murphy; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.