Mary Schmitz
December 4, 1932 — August 30, 2015
Mary Ellen Schmitz was born to Louis and Ann (McCaffery) Henkelman on December 4, 1932. She grew up in Defiance with her eight siblings. Mary Ellen accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Defiance. She attended and graduated from St. Paul Catholic School in 1950.
Mary met the love of her life, LaVern Leo Schmitz and was united in marriage on April 22, 1954 in St. Peter's Catholic Church. Mary and Lavern were blessed with seven children and raised their family in Defiance.
She was a full time mom. Mary Ellen was a member of St. Peter's Altar Society. She played organ at church for many many years.
In her leisure time, she enjoyed reading, word search, playing the piano and gardening in her strawberry patch. Mary was an impeccable house keeper and wonderful cook. She did exquisite embroidery work that all her children truly treasure.
Mary Ellen loved to walk her puppy, Lilly, and rarely missed a day even in the coldest weather. She was a quiet woman who never asked for anything for herself.
Mary Ellen died on Sunday, August 30, 2015 at Elm Crest Retirement Home in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of eighty-two years, eight months, and twenty-six days. She is preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Ann Henkelman; brothers: Frank, Harry and Raymond Henkelman; and by her sister Ardith Schaben.
She leaves behind to cherish her memory, her husband of sixty-one years; her children: Rick and Cris Schmitz of Gillette, Wyoming, Sally and Ron Weihs, Doug and Cindy Schmitz, Ed and Sue Schmitz all of Defiance, Iowa, Rosemary and Mike McCoy of Urbandale, Iowa, Cindy and John Auffart and Paul and Shelley Schmitz from Council Bluffs, Iowa; twenty-two grandchildren and thirty-three great-grandchildren; her sisters Loretta and Joe Kenkel and Dorothy and Max Kenkel of Earling, Iowa and her sister Agnes and Jay Menze of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska.
Mary met the love of her life, LaVern Leo Schmitz and was united in marriage on April 22, 1954 in St. Peter's Catholic Church. Mary and Lavern were blessed with seven children and raised their family in Defiance.
She was a full time mom. Mary Ellen was a member of St. Peter's Altar Society. She played organ at church for many many years.
In her leisure time, she enjoyed reading, word search, playing the piano and gardening in her strawberry patch. Mary was an impeccable house keeper and wonderful cook. She did exquisite embroidery work that all her children truly treasure.
Mary Ellen loved to walk her puppy, Lilly, and rarely missed a day even in the coldest weather. She was a quiet woman who never asked for anything for herself.
Mary Ellen died on Sunday, August 30, 2015 at Elm Crest Retirement Home in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of eighty-two years, eight months, and twenty-six days. She is preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Ann Henkelman; brothers: Frank, Harry and Raymond Henkelman; and by her sister Ardith Schaben.
She leaves behind to cherish her memory, her husband of sixty-one years; her children: Rick and Cris Schmitz of Gillette, Wyoming, Sally and Ron Weihs, Doug and Cindy Schmitz, Ed and Sue Schmitz all of Defiance, Iowa, Rosemary and Mike McCoy of Urbandale, Iowa, Cindy and John Auffart and Paul and Shelley Schmitz from Council Bluffs, Iowa; twenty-two grandchildren and thirty-three great-grandchildren; her sisters Loretta and Joe Kenkel and Dorothy and Max Kenkel of Earling, Iowa and her sister Agnes and Jay Menze of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska.
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