Donald Schmitz, 88 of Dedham, died Friday, September 29, 2023 at Addington Place in Carroll surrounded by his family.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dedham. The Celebrant will be Fr. Peter Pham, assisted by Deacon Louis Meiners. Lector for the Funeral Mass will be Brian Parkis. Gift Bearers will be Don’s granddaughters. Casket Bearers will be Don’s grandsons. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Dedham with military honors conducted by the Dedham American Legion.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Monday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a rosary at 7 p.m. Additional visitation will be from 9:30-10:15 a.m. on Tuesday at the church.
Memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for the Dedham American Legion. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Don’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Donald J. Schmitz was born on September 4, 1935, the son of William and Margaret (Brincks) Schmitz. Don attended St. Joseph’s School in Dedham and then worked for farmers in the area. He served in the United States Army from 1954-1956 and following his honorable discharge he received an Associate of Applied Science Degree from Pueblo College in Colorado. On June 30, 1962, Don was united in marriage to Pauline Berens at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Carroll.
Don and Pauline settled into the family farm in Dedham. and farmed. Don also worked at a packing plant in Perry as well as Farmland in Carroll. The Schmitz’s also owned and operated Schmitz Grocery Store in Dedham until 1996. Don was a member of St. Joseph’s Church in Dedham and the Dedham American Legion.
Survivors include his wife Pauline Schmitz of Carroll; his children: Mark (Mary) Schmitz of Dedham, Alan (Tamara) Schmitz of Dedham, David (Julie) Schmitz of Alta, Danny Schmitz of Pleasant Hill, Polly Bauer of Bagley, Gary (Annissa) Schmitz of Mt. Carmel, Jayne (Bryon) Adams of Omaha, and Crystal (Brian) Parkis of Carroll; 22 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.
Don was preceded in death by his parents; his granddaughter, Leah Schaben; his sisters, Rita Becker, Irma Morgan, Mary Swatta, Marcella Berning, Mildred Landon, and Marlene Schmitz; and his brothers, Louie, Bob, Ray, Bill, and Joe Schmitz.