Schiltz, Donald E. 1931-2009

SCHILTZ, DIEKMANN, GROFF

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 10/9/2009 at 14:29:48

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, October 9, 2009

Donald E. Schiltz, 78, of Remsen, died Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009, at Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen.

Don was born June 21, 1931, at Remsen, the son of Anton and Elizabeth (Diekmann) Schiltz. He was raised and educated in the Remsen area and graduated from St. Mary Catholic School in 1949. After school Don farmed with his father and drove truck.

On April 13, 1955, Don married Patricia Groff at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Granville. The couple continued farming and Don continued trucking. Over the years Don had numerous jobs including, ASCS office in Le Mars, maintenance for Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen and bus driver for Remsen School District. Don entered the Happy Siesta Health Care Center July 5, 2007.

Don was a skilled woodworker who designed many treasures for his grandchildren. He also enjoyed fishing, golfing, bowling, softball, dancing, playing cards and loved attending grandchildren's activities and his family.

Don was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Remsen, Knights of Columbus, past member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, past member of St. Mary School Board, original board member of The Remsen Golf Course, chairman of the Oktoberfest Planning Committee for numerous years, and the Oktoberfest Chior.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years Pat of Remsen; two sons, Mike Schiltz and his wife Heidi of Blue Earth, Minn., and Russ Schiltz and his wife Monica of St. Louis, Mo.; four daughters, Diane Jenson and her husband Brian of Minneapolis, Minn., Sandi Tritz and her husband Jeff, Kathy Loutsch and her husband Gary, all of Remsen, and Nancy Hepner and her husband Marty of Elizabethtown, Ky.; eight grandsons, Nick Flores and his wife Lauren, Patrick Schiltz, Chad Schiltz and his wife Michelle, Dustin Tritz and his fiancée, Sarah Kohler, Tyler Loutsch and his special friend, Jenna Frederes, Christopher Loutsch, Matthew Hepner, Andrew Schiltz; seven granddaughters, Ashley Tritz and her special friend Jordan Vaske, Rebecca Hepner, Hannah Loutsch, Madeline, Natalie and Elaena Schiltz, Maria Schiltz; two great-grandchildren, Kayden Tritz and Dakota Schiltz; one sister, Mary Ann Hansen of Remsen; one sister-in-law, June Schiltz of Remsen; and other numerous relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three grandsons, Matthew, Mark and Brandon Schiltz; two brothers, Elmer and his wife Alma Schiltz, Rich Schiltz; three sisters, Sally and her husband Bob Delperdang, Emily Mae and her husband Leo Ahlers and Irene and her husband Jack Barthole; and one brother-in-law, Leonard Hansen.

Funeral service will be at 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary Catholic Church in Remsen with the Rev. William McCarthy officiating. Burial will be in the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Remsen. Friends may call anytime after 2 p.m. today (Friday). There will be a parish rosary at 3 p.m., a vigil prayer service at 7:30 p.m. followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary, all at the Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen.

Casket Bearers will be his grandsons, Nick Flores, Patrick and Chad Schiltz, Dustin Tritz, Tyler and Christopher Loutsch, Matthew Hepner and Andrew Schiltz.

A special thank you to the Le Mars Hospice and the loving and caring staff of Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen.