Eileen M. Schmitz
November 18, 1925 — December 31, 2009
Eileen Mary Coenen Schmitz, daughter of Godfrey "Shorty" and Agnes (Michalski) Coenen, was born on November 18, 1925, in Westphalia, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Boniface Catholic Church and attended St. Boniface Catholic School in Westphalia.
On November 22, 1945, Eileen was united in marriage to Leonard Anthony Schmitz, son of Leo and Cecelia Zimmerman Schmitz, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia. Nine children were born to this union. After their marriage, Eileen and Leonard farmed near Westphalia. After Leonard�s death in 1991, Eileen continued to live on the farm for a few years and then moved to Harlan, where she became a member of St. Michael�s Catholic Church. In January 2005, she made her residence at the Elm Crest Retirement Home in Harlan.
Eileen and Leonard operated the St. Hubert Clubhouse in Westphalia, Iowa, for several years.
Eileen then spent most of her life as a care giver. Besides caring for her family, she worked at the Little Flower Haven in Earling, Iowa, then the County Care Facility of Shelby County and then did home care giving. She then found herself caring for her mother and then her husband.
Eileen died on Thursday, December 31, 2009, at Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of eighty-four years, one month, and thirteen days. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leonard; two sons: Deacon Ronald in 2002 and Thomas Joseph in infancy; two grandchildren: Jason Schmitz and Audrey Schmitz; her sister, Rita Coenen Schulte; her sisters-in-law: Rose Maria Beran Coenen, Evelyn Schechinger Coenen, Betty Sieczkowski Coenen and her brothers-in-law: Charles Schomer, Francis Schulte and David Rau.
She is survived by her children: Larry Schmitz and his wife Nancy of LaVista, Nebraska; Jack Schmitz of Red Oak, Iowa; Lenny Schmitz and his wife Doris of Harlan, Iowa; Shirley Haner of Elk Horn, Iowa; Doug Schmitz and his companion Lisa Morris of Papillion, Nebraska; Joe Schmitz and his wife Lory of Divide, Colorado; Brian Schmitz and his wife Michelle of Omaha, Nebraska; her daughter-in-law, Pam Schmitz of LeMars, Iowa; twenty grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; her siblings: Melvin Coenen of Harlan, Iowa; Clarence Coenen of Westphalia, Iowa; Virgil Coenen and his wife Mary Ann of Earling, Iowa; Elroy Coenen and his wife Betty of Aurora, Colorado; Madeline Schomer and Janice Rau both of Harlan, Iowa; many nieces and nephews; other family members and many friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, January 4, 2009, at St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa, with Rev. Bob Hoefler celebrating the 11:00 AM service. Interment was held at St. Boniface Cemetery in Westphalia, Iowa, with Jared Schmitz, Jessica Morris, Ryan Schmitz, and Scott Morris acting as honorary casket bearers. Serving as casket bearers were: Cody Haner, Matthew Schmitz, Mark Smith, Brad Schmitz, Nathan Schmitz, Joshua Schmitz, Derek Schmitz, and Jeremy Schmitz.
PDF Printable Version
On November 22, 1945, Eileen was united in marriage to Leonard Anthony Schmitz, son of Leo and Cecelia Zimmerman Schmitz, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia. Nine children were born to this union. After their marriage, Eileen and Leonard farmed near Westphalia. After Leonard�s death in 1991, Eileen continued to live on the farm for a few years and then moved to Harlan, where she became a member of St. Michael�s Catholic Church. In January 2005, she made her residence at the Elm Crest Retirement Home in Harlan.
Eileen and Leonard operated the St. Hubert Clubhouse in Westphalia, Iowa, for several years.
Eileen then spent most of her life as a care giver. Besides caring for her family, she worked at the Little Flower Haven in Earling, Iowa, then the County Care Facility of Shelby County and then did home care giving. She then found herself caring for her mother and then her husband.
Eileen died on Thursday, December 31, 2009, at Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of eighty-four years, one month, and thirteen days. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leonard; two sons: Deacon Ronald in 2002 and Thomas Joseph in infancy; two grandchildren: Jason Schmitz and Audrey Schmitz; her sister, Rita Coenen Schulte; her sisters-in-law: Rose Maria Beran Coenen, Evelyn Schechinger Coenen, Betty Sieczkowski Coenen and her brothers-in-law: Charles Schomer, Francis Schulte and David Rau.
She is survived by her children: Larry Schmitz and his wife Nancy of LaVista, Nebraska; Jack Schmitz of Red Oak, Iowa; Lenny Schmitz and his wife Doris of Harlan, Iowa; Shirley Haner of Elk Horn, Iowa; Doug Schmitz and his companion Lisa Morris of Papillion, Nebraska; Joe Schmitz and his wife Lory of Divide, Colorado; Brian Schmitz and his wife Michelle of Omaha, Nebraska; her daughter-in-law, Pam Schmitz of LeMars, Iowa; twenty grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; her siblings: Melvin Coenen of Harlan, Iowa; Clarence Coenen of Westphalia, Iowa; Virgil Coenen and his wife Mary Ann of Earling, Iowa; Elroy Coenen and his wife Betty of Aurora, Colorado; Madeline Schomer and Janice Rau both of Harlan, Iowa; many nieces and nephews; other family members and many friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, January 4, 2009, at St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa, with Rev. Bob Hoefler celebrating the 11:00 AM service. Interment was held at St. Boniface Cemetery in Westphalia, Iowa, with Jared Schmitz, Jessica Morris, Ryan Schmitz, and Scott Morris acting as honorary casket bearers. Serving as casket bearers were: Cody Haner, Matthew Schmitz, Mark Smith, Brad Schmitz, Nathan Schmitz, Joshua Schmitz, Derek Schmitz, and Jeremy Schmitz.
PDF Printable Version
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Eileen M. Schmitz, please visit our flower store.