Schmitz, Lester Adolph (1927 - 2019)

SCHMITZ, GUBBELS, GAUL, HODAPP, MADSEN, GUBBELS, CONKEL, HULL, BISSEN, SMITH

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 10/29/2019 at 20:25:20

Name of deceased: Lester Adolph Schmitz

Aged: 92 yrs, 8 mo, 3 days

Residence: Elm Crest Retirement Community, Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Born: Feb. 7, 1927; Westphalia, Shelby County, IA

Died: Oct. 10, 2019; Elm Crest Retirement Community, Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Funeral services: Mass of Christian Burial: Monday, Oct. 14, 2019; St. Mary Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Portsmouth, IA; burial was in St. Mary's Cemetery, Portsmouth, IA

Survived by: Children, Greg Schmitz (spouse, Barbara) of Dallas, TX, Jim Schmitz (spouse, Alicia) of Chagrin Falls, OH, Peg Gaul (spouse, Tim) of Ames, IA, and John Schmitz (spouse, Kim) of Iowa City, IA; grandchildren, Christine, Amy, Ben, Abby, Jacob, Aaron, Andrew, Isabella, and Nicholas; great-grandchildren, Ava, Noah, Quinn, Hudson, Zachary, and Nicholas; sisters, Arlene (spouse, Bob) Hodapp of Denver, CO, and Sr. Lorraine Schmitz of Milwaukee, WI; sister-in-law, Marge Madsen of Fort Collins, CO; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Bernard and Eleanor (nee Gubbels) Schmitz; wife of 54 years, Rita; daughter, Susie; brothers, Eugene, Eldred, and Lavern Schmitz; sisters, Bernadette Conkel, Luella Hull, Luanna Schmitz, Marcelene Bissen, and Sr. Bernice Schmitz

Education: Attended St. Boniface Catholic School, Westphalia, IA; graduated with the Class of 1945

Religious affiliation: Baptized, received his First Communion, and was confirmed at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Westphalia, IA; was actively involved with the church and was a member of the Knights of Columbus

Military service: no information provided

Marriage: Rita Ellen Smith; Nov. 24, 1953; St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Portsmouth, IA

Employment: After high school, Lester worked for the Shelby County Conservation District and learned how to become a good steward of the land. He moved to Portsmouth, IA in the early 1950’s and worked at the State Bank of Portsmouth. In 1965, he founded Portsmouth Insurance Agency, and worked there until his retirement in 1991. He served the City of Portsmouth in many ways, working as a substitute rural mail-carrier for the post office, acting as the City Clerk for 26 years, and was a member of the Portsmouth Volunteer Fire Department since the early 1950s, including having served as Fire Chief in 1967-68.

Hobbies/Interests: loved to garden, play cards, work puzzles, grill, and travel. He visited all 50 states and several foreign countries.

Sources: harlanonline.com; kjan.com; pauleyjones.com