Eldred W. Schmitz
November 22, 1923 — November 4, 2012
Eldred William Schmitz was born on November 22, 1923 to Bernard and Eleanor (Gubbels) Schmitz in Westphalia, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia. He attended St. Boniface Catholic School and was a member of the graduating class of 1942.
He entered the United States Army on April 30, 1945 and served during World War II in Japan from 1945 to 1946. He received an honorable discharge on November 30, 1946 and returned home to help on the family farm.
On April 13, 1950, Eldred was united in marriage to Evelyn Klein. Three children were born to them: Mary Lynn, Cecil, and Galen.
The family moved to their own farm near Walnut, Iowa until 1955 when they moved to Omaha, Nebraska. Eldred worked at a dairy company and moved back to Westphalia to work at the pork plant.
After his retirement, he served in various leadership positions with the veterans. He was able to get all of the big flags for the cemetery donated and made sure they were put up. He sang with the St. Boniface choir for forty years and sang Taps for many funerals. He knew all the songs without looking at the book.
Eldred became a resident of Elm Crest Retirement Home in Harlan, Iowa, where he died on Sunday, November 4, 2012, having attained the age of eighty-eight years, eleven months, and thirteen days. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Eugene Schmitz and sisters Bernadette Conkel, Marcelene Bissen, and Luanna Schmitz.
He is survived by his children: Mary Lynn and her husband Danny Shallenberger of Omaha, Nebraska, Cecil Schmitz and his wife Monica of North Sioux City, South Dakota, and Galen Schmitz and his wife Rebecca of Corpus Christi, Texas; seven grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters: Sr. Bernice Schmitz of Harlan, Iowa, Lester Schmitz of Harlan, La Vern Schmitz and his wife Mary of Defiance, Iowa, Luella Hull of Manning, Iowa, Arlene and her husband Bob Hodapp of Denver, Colorado, and Sr. Loraine Schmitz of Omaha; other family members and friends.
Rev. John Dorton celebrated the 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, November 8, 2012 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia, Iowa. Gloria Schmitz accompanied Jan Rau and the St. Boniface Choir. Serving as casket bearers were Delbert Bissen, Bob Schmitz, Darrell Bissen, Doug Schmitz, Mike Hall, and Dean Bissen. Military Rites were provided by Defiance and Westphalia Post No. 707 at St. Boniface Cemetery.
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He entered the United States Army on April 30, 1945 and served during World War II in Japan from 1945 to 1946. He received an honorable discharge on November 30, 1946 and returned home to help on the family farm.
On April 13, 1950, Eldred was united in marriage to Evelyn Klein. Three children were born to them: Mary Lynn, Cecil, and Galen.
The family moved to their own farm near Walnut, Iowa until 1955 when they moved to Omaha, Nebraska. Eldred worked at a dairy company and moved back to Westphalia to work at the pork plant.
After his retirement, he served in various leadership positions with the veterans. He was able to get all of the big flags for the cemetery donated and made sure they were put up. He sang with the St. Boniface choir for forty years and sang Taps for many funerals. He knew all the songs without looking at the book.
Eldred became a resident of Elm Crest Retirement Home in Harlan, Iowa, where he died on Sunday, November 4, 2012, having attained the age of eighty-eight years, eleven months, and thirteen days. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Eugene Schmitz and sisters Bernadette Conkel, Marcelene Bissen, and Luanna Schmitz.
He is survived by his children: Mary Lynn and her husband Danny Shallenberger of Omaha, Nebraska, Cecil Schmitz and his wife Monica of North Sioux City, South Dakota, and Galen Schmitz and his wife Rebecca of Corpus Christi, Texas; seven grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters: Sr. Bernice Schmitz of Harlan, Iowa, Lester Schmitz of Harlan, La Vern Schmitz and his wife Mary of Defiance, Iowa, Luella Hull of Manning, Iowa, Arlene and her husband Bob Hodapp of Denver, Colorado, and Sr. Loraine Schmitz of Omaha; other family members and friends.
Rev. John Dorton celebrated the 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, November 8, 2012 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia, Iowa. Gloria Schmitz accompanied Jan Rau and the St. Boniface Choir. Serving as casket bearers were Delbert Bissen, Bob Schmitz, Darrell Bissen, Doug Schmitz, Mike Hall, and Dean Bissen. Military Rites were provided by Defiance and Westphalia Post No. 707 at St. Boniface Cemetery.
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