Schmitz, LaVern L. (1930 - 2017)

SCHMITZ, WEIHS, MCCOY, AUFFART, HODAPP, GUBBLES, CONKEL, BISSEN, HENKELMAN

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 3/21/2017 at 21:15:49

Name of deceased: LaVern Leo Schmitz

Aged: 86 yrs, 4 mo, 10 days

Residence: Harlan, IA

Born: Nov. 10, 1930

Died: March 20, 2017

Funeral services: Mass of Christian Burial: Thursday, March 23, 2017; St. Peter's Catholic Church, Defiance, IA; burial was in the Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery, Defiance, IA.

Survived by: Children, Rick Schmitz (spouse, Cris) of Gillette, WY, Sally (spouse, Ron) Weihs of Four Seasons, MO, Doug Schmitz (spouse, Cindy) of Defiance, IA, Ed Schmitz (spouse, Susan) of Defiance, IA, Rosemary (spouse, Mike) McCoy of Urbandale, IA, Cindy (spouse, John) Auffart of Council Bluffs, IA, and Paul Schmitz (spouse, Shelley) of Council Bluffs, IA; 22 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; siblings, Sr. Bernice Schmitz of Milwaukee, WI, Lester Schmitz of Harlan, IA, Arlene (spouse, Bob) Hodapp of Denver, CO, and Sr. Loraine Schmitz of Milwaukee, WI; nieces; nephews; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Bernard and Eleanor (nee Gubbles) Schmitz; wife, Mary; siblings, Eugene Schmitz, Eldred Schmitz, Bernadette Conkel, Luella Hull, Marcelene Bissen and Luanna Schmitz

Education: attended school to Grade 9, when he left to help on the family farm

Religious affiliation: baptized and confirmed at the St. Boniface Catholic Church, Westphalia, IA; active member, serving on the Parish Council, as a Eucharistic Minister and singing in the choir.

Military service: Drafted Feb. 1952 into the U. S. Army during the Korean War; honorably discharged February 1954. During his time in the service, he was awarded with a Koren Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, Good Conduct Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and 2 Overseas Bars.

Marriage: Mary Ellen Henkelman; April 22, 1954; St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Defiance, IA

Employment: got started in the bee business with his father-in-law

Hobbies/Interests: Community-minded, serving on the City Council and for the Defiance Volunteer Fire Department; enjoyed dancing and woodworking.

Sources: kjan.com; knodfm.com; pauleyjones.com