Schmitt, Camella (Jirak) "Millie" 1934 - 2024
SCHMITT, JIRAK, NEWGARD, TUTTLE, KING, WILLIS, OBRIEN
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/22/2024 at 16:07:28
Camella Schmitt, age 90, of Cresco and Lime Springs, IA, died surrounded by family on May 7, 2024 at Evans Memorial Home in Cresco.
In March 1934, Camella was born to Adolph and Mary Jirak, who lived near Ft Atkinson, IA, during the Great Depression. Camella learned young how to tend the fields and milk cows by hand at a time when milk sold for under $.50 a gallon. The family moved to a farm south of Vernon Springs where Camella walked to a one room schoolhouse with her brothers Gordon and Richard. Classmates struggled to say her name, which soon was shortened to “Millie,” a nickname that stuck for the rest of her life.
The end of World War II and start of Millie’s teen years were centered around farm, family, friends, basketball, and attending Notre Dame Catholic School in Cresco. Millie and her Class of 1952 were the first high school graduating class at Notre Dame High. Millie enrolled at Mercy School of Nursing in Dubuque, IA, working at the teaching hospital to pay her tuition. In 1955, she graduated and became a Registered Nurse (RN),
For the next 42 years, Millie helped care for those in her community as an RN for the hospital in Cresco and as County Nurse. She met her husband, Lester Schmitt (deceased), while dancing one night at the Inwood in Spillville, IA. They were married in 1957 and eventually settled on a farm near Bonair, IA, there they lived for over 60 years, raising a family of five children, sometimes raising cows, pigs, or fowl alongside rows of corn, soybeans and fruits and vegetables for the family. Millie helped run the farm, support Lester’s seed corn sales needs, and worked nights at the hospital so she could care for family during the day. To her teenage children’s chagrin at the time, her voice could be heard above others at games, always supporting and cheering them on.
Many describe Millie as one of the kindest and nicest of people, a tree swaying with the winds yet always willing to stand strong, help, and do good for others. She volunteered with the Catholic parish in Cresco, hospital auxiliary, and Hospice post-retirement. Millie was a lifelong supporter of women and children in need. She was also a lot of fun, visiting her children, traveling, and always up for a game of 500 (how did she always get dealt the Joker?).
Millie is survived by her children: Constance Schmitt Newgard of Carlsbad, CA; Chuck (Denise) Schmitt of Coon Valley, WI; Cathy (Jeff) Tuttle of Glenwood Springs, CO; Carol Schmitt of McKinleyville, CA; and Christina (Bobby King) Schmitt of Minneapolis, MN. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren: Katie (Justin) and Liz (Ryn) Newgard; Taylor (Cody) Willis and Travis Schmitt; Jessica (Kyah) Tuttle; Nathan Schmitt; Violet King; and 2 great grandchildren, Lily and Easton. Millie is also survived by her brother Richard (Joyce) Jirak and sister Dorothy (Charlie) O’Brien.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, and 4 siblings: Alma May, Gordon, Elaine, and Marlene.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 11, at Notre Dame Catholic Church with Father Jacob Rouse officiating. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Cresco, IA. Visitation will be held 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 11, at Notre Dame Catholic Church; with Recitation of the Rosary held at 9:20 p.m.
If you wish to give a gift in memory of Camella Schmitt, please donate to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Cresco’s Notre Dame Parish.
Source: Hindt Funeral Home database
Calvary Cresco Cemetery
Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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