Nancy Gale (Schmidt) Harper, 93, died March 11, 2023, at Country Meadows, Allentown, in the loving care of her children and grandchildren, Lifesong Hospice and the staff of Country Meadows. She grew up in Englewood, N.J. and was the daughter of the late Ray and Ethel Gale.

She attended Dwight Morrow High School where she was a cheerleader, co-captain and class queen. She graduated from Centenary College, Hackettstown, N.J. Following college, she worked as a service representative for New Jersey Bell.

She was the wife of the late Victor R. Schmidt Jr. who died in 1995. They raised their family at Meadowbrook Farm in Emmaus. During that time, she was active at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Allentown and in the community, including the Junior Aides at The Allentown Hospital and raising money for the YWCA and United Way. She served on the board of The Lutheran Home at Topton for nine years. A lifelong knitter, she started Kraemer Yarns, a teaching and retail shop at the family business, Kraemer Textiles, that was the impetus for their line of hand knitting yarns in the 1980s.

Following her first husband’s death, she spent time in the condo they had bought in Palm City, Fla., where she met Donald Harper. They married the following year, living at Piper’s Landing, Palm City for most of the year, with summers spent at Bald Peak Colony Club on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. They traveled extensively, later retiring full time to Palm City and eventually moving into Sand Hill Cove Retirement Community. Don died in 2021, and, following a series of health issues, she moved back to Allentown.

A fierce and determined competitor, she excelled at sports including paddle tennis and tennis - she was a tennis champion at both Lehigh County Club and later Bald Peak Colony Club in New Hampshire. She played golf and became women’s croquet champion at Sand Hill Cove. She loved playing cards and became an excellent duplicate bridge player. She loved to walk and swam as often as she could.

She is survived by children, Gale (Dan) Ellenberger, David (Sharon) Schmidt, Vicki (Peter) Lindabury, Peter (Diana) Schmidt and Victor F. Schmidt; stepchildren, Laura (Eric), Greg (Karen), Steve (Jenny) and Peter (Lee); grandchildren, Dave and Tasia Schmidt, Michael and Kristen Hodavance, Shawn, Keith and Jamie Lindabury, Audrey, Frances and Greg Schmidt; 13 great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; friends; sports and bridge partners. She was predeceased by a younger brother, Skip (Ray).

Contributions may be made in her name to Treasure Coast Hospice Foundation, 1201 SE Indian St., Stuart, Fla. 34997.

A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. March 17 at The Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, 3461 S. Cedar Crest Boulevard, Emmaus, where she was an active member for many years. Visiting hours will begin 10 a.m. at the church. Arrangements were made by Schantz Funeral Home, P.C., Emmaus.