Robert Schmitz

ROBERT J. SCHMITZ was born on August 21, 1930 to John and Kathreyn (Bohls) Schmitz in Codington County, South Dakota. He was baptized at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Kranzburg, South Dakota, and later confirmed in Vinton, Iowa. His farming parents moved the family often during his youth, and Bob attended nine different schools during the twelve years of his education. He was drafted into the United States Army on January 8, 1952, and proudly served his country during the Korean War. Bob was honorably discharged on September 8, 1953. Upon his return, he went to work for the City of Independence, Iowa. In 1959 Bob began his career with the United States Postal Service. He was united in holy matrimony to Elizabeth (Betty) Joyce at St. John’s Catholic Church in Independence, Iowa, on October 8, 1960. The couple lived in Independence and began their family, raising four children. The family moved to Eldora, Iowa, in 1977, and later to Sheldon, Iowa, in 1988. After 33 years with the postal service, Bob retired in 1992. The couple moved to Lake Park, Iowa in 1998. Betty passed away in January of 2003. Bob married Linda McGinty on August 19, 2007, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne, Minnesota. He moved to Luverne to join Linda in 2008. On Monday, January 5, 2015 Bob died peacefully surrounded by his family at his home at the age of 84 years, four months and 15 days.

Bob was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. Over the years he had been a member of the Catholic churches of his residence. He also served as President of the Parish Council while the family lived in Eldora, Iowa. He was a member of the Luverne American Legion Post 123, and both the Rock County Sportsmen Club and the Garretson, South Dakota, Sportsmen Club. His hobbies included shooting sports and gardening.

Bob will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Linda; his four children, Mark Schmitz and his wife Jean Liles of Ames, Iowa, John Schmitz and his wife Josie of Eldora, Iowa, Lisa Dingel of Knoxville, Iowa, Lori Parr of Hillsborough, New Jersey; two step children, Julie Lanoue and her husband, Tony of Garretson, South Dakota and Ann Pommer of Brandon, South Dakota; 9 grandchildren, Brendan Porter, Kyle Porter, Brody Dingel, Jinni Dingel, and Jonna Dingel, Mat Schmitz, Kelsey Schmitz, Liza Parr, and William Parr; 4 step-grandchildren, Peter Fatka, Abigail Jean Lanoue, April (Andy) Westlake, Tara (Mike) Etheridge; 2 great-grandchildren, Teagan and Riley Porter; and 2 step-great-grandchildren, Maxwell Westlake and Hannah Etheridge. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty; parents, John and Kathreyn; three sisters, Florence (Ted) Ries, Laurine (George) Mack, Edna (Harry) Mack; and a brother, Donald (Anna Mae Luloff Hansen) Schmitz.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Sanford Luverne Home Hospice, Salvation Army, or ALS - Iowa Chapter (Foxboro Business Center, Suite 205, 6165 NW 86th St., Johnston, IA 50131).