Calvin Charles Staudt, Sr.

FLORENCE, South Carolina — Calvin Charles Staudt, Sr., 94, formerly of Wernersville, Pennsylvania; Dike, Iowa and Myerstown, Pennsylvania, passed away Feb. 11, 2025, in Florence, South Carolina, where he has resided since 2017.  

He was cremated and remains will be buried in St. Johns (Hain’s) Cemetery in Wernersville, PA.  Services will be held later.

Calvin was a US Navy veteran, serving six years during the Korean War, attached to Squadron VC-12 on the aircraft carriers USS Coral Sea and USS Bon Homme Richard. He was a 1948 graduate of Wernersville High School, and a 1958 graduate of Penn State University with a BS in Agriculture and Engineering. He retired in 1984 from Deere & Co., in Waterloo, after a 26-year career as an agricultural engineer.

He farmed in Dike for 40 years, retiring in 2004.  Calvin and Shirley’s farm was one of the first certified organic farms in Iowa.  He also raised feeder hogs.

He was a 50-year member of the Masons serving various positions for Honor Lodge #646 in Dike, including Worshipful Master.  He was a member of the Scottish Rite, York Rite and was a 32nd degree Mason.  He was a Shriner in the El Kahir temple in Hiawatha.  He also volunteered with the 4-H in Grundy County.

He was a member of the John Paul Jones Society of the SAR of Maryland and  direct descendant of Johann Mathias and Anna Margaretha (Graeter) Staudt and Joseph “Yost” and Anna E. (Strunck) Hiester, all early 1700’s emigrants to Pennsylvania Colony from the Palatinate.

He was the husband of Shirley D. (Sensenig) Staudt.  They were married June 12, 1954 and recently celebrated their 70th anniversary.

Calvin, a son of the late Calvin H. and Geneva P. (Heister) Staudt, was born in the historic Staudt farmhouse at Old Dry Road Farm in Lower Heidelberg Twp., Pennsylvania on July 1, 1930.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons:  Calvin C. (Karla) Staudt, Jr., and Pernell N. (Paula) Staudt; a daughter, Paige A. (Steve) Cuellar; grandchildren:  Kaitlin Staudt (Michael Polczynski), Rachel (Michael) Badger, Connor Cuellar, Owen Staudt, Hailey Cuellar, and August Staudt, and step-grandson, Christopher (Torey) Cuellar; great-grandchildren: Carter Badger, Kinga Polczynski-Staudt, and Cyril Badger; and step-great-grandchildren, Wes and Reese Cuellar.  He is also survived by his brother, Curtis (Joan) Staudt and sister, Sandra Yost (John Wallace).

He was predeceased by his daughter, Brenda S. Staudt; grandson, Evan Staudt; brothers, Kenneth (Jean) Staudt and Bryan (Ardelle) Staudt; and sister, Geneva (Carl) Brune.

Memorials may be made to the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Research Fund through the “Give to Iowa” website or a charity of your choice.