Schmelzer, Paul Thomas 1945 - 2021

SCHMELZER, HUSEBY, BAUMLER, MCINTYRE, MCCABE, STILLE, SMITH, MACKENBURG, WHALEN, THOMAS, PEDRETTI, CENEK, CHRISTOPHER, JOHNSON, LENSING, LUNDE, MOON, PRASKA, OSTBY, SCHMITT, RUNDQUIST, WILTGEN, SCHOTT, BRYNSAAS, GEHLING, KOPERSKI

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/14/2021 at 11:48:13

Paul Thomas Schmelzer, age 75 of Ridgeway, IA passed away peacefully on May 12, 2021 at home surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, May 17, 2021, at the at the Assumption Catholic Church, 207 May St. N, Canton, MN with Rev. Edward McGrath presiding.

Visitation will be from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 16, 2021 at the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Ave in Decorah and also after 10:00 a.m. at the church on Monday morning.

Memorials may be sent to his family at: 2756 250th St Ridgeway, IA 52165

Paul was born to Charles and Agnes (Huseby) Schmelzer on August 22, 1945. He grew up near Canton, MN.

Paul was baptized and confirmed at the Assumption Catholic church in Canton, MN. He graduated from the Canton High School with the class of 1963. He married Diane Baumler on August 1, 1964 at the Plymouth Rock Church, rural Cresco and to this union had seven children: Paula, Pam, Denise, Doug, David, Dana, and Pat.

The first two years of their marriage, Paul worked for the Canton Oil Company and a farmer in Minnesota. In 1966, they moved to Iowa and farmed near Bluffton, IA until 1971. From 1971-1995 they dairy farmed east of Burr Oak. In 1995, they bought a farm two miles east of Ridgeway, IA that he farmed with his son David. In 2004, they expanded their farm and built a parlor milking 250 cows. They farm around 2000 acres of crop land. His son, David, has farmed with him the last 34 years and after Paul retired at the end of 2019 David bought the farm.

Paul enjoyed country music, especially George Jones, playing euchre, bowling, going out to eat with friends, chocolate malts from the Whippy Dip, and hearing/sharing inappropriate stories and jokes with family and friends. He loved having all the family together for holidays and other special events. He was hard working and took pride in everything he did on the farm. He preferred Case IH equipment and some of the grandchildren enjoyed trying to persuade him that John Deere was better!

Paul served as the North Winn Athletic Booster President in the 1980’s and served on the church council at Plymouth Rock. He was a proud Land O’Lakes member and dairy producer who served on the board and was a voice for agriculture. Throughout his many years of farming, he received many awards. In 2010, he received the Distinguished Farm Family award. In 2017, he received the Highest Producing Cow Award in Iowa.

Paul is survived by his wife, Diane of almost 57 years, 7 children- Paula (Donny) McIntyre, Decorah; Pam (Jerry) McCabe, Preston, MN; Denise (Kent) Stille, Decorah; Doug (Jackie) Schmelzer, Ridgeway; David (Jennifer) Schmelzer, Ridgeway; Dana (Donny) Smith, Ridgeway; Pat (Shannon) Schmelzer, Cresco; 30 grandchildren - Kayla (Dean Mackenburg) McIntyre, Matthew (Allie) McIntyre, Travis (Brittany) McIntyre, Jenna (Kyle) Whalen, Amanda (Joel) Thomas, Alex (Allison Pedretti) McCabe, Adam (Alexis) McCabe, Brandon (Michelle) Stille, Stephanie (Jason) Cenek, Taylor (Chase) Christopher, McKenzie Schmelzer, Zach Schmelzer, Brelynn (Jacob) Johnson, Bryce Lensing, Jordan (Ethan) Lunde, Mariah (Tim) Moon, Blake Schmelzer, Carter Schmelzer, Annika Schmelzer, Jackson Schmelzer, Gracelyn Schmelzer, Hunter Praska, Hailey (Trent Ostby) Praska, Derek (Ariana) Smith, Chelsey (Spencer) Schmitt, Kole (Mercedes Christopher) Schmelzer, Konner Schmelzer, Kody Schmelzer, Kail Schmelzer, and Kadyn Schmelzer; 19 great-grandchildren (5 more coming this summer); brother and sister-in-laws- Floyd (Ginny Runquist) Baumler, Rochester, MN; Arlan (Karen) Baumler, Zumbro Falls, MN; Sharon Wiltgen, Gaylord, MN and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Clair, mother and father-in-law Martin and Esther (Schott) Baumler; daughter-in-law Ami Engan Schmelzer in 1999; brothers and sister-in-laws- Virgil Baumler, Elaine (Arlin) Brynsaas, Joyce Baumler, LaVonne (Florian) Gehling, Larry Baumler, Donna Koperski, Ron Wiltgen.

Source: Schluter-Balik Funeral Home database