Jerold "Jake" Schmitz, 41, died on Friday, September 4, 2009 at his home surrounded by his loving family under the care of hospice.

Funeral services will be 2:00 PM, Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Red Lake Falls, MN with Rev. Jonathan Dodson and Rev. Gary Graff officiating. Burial will follow in Emardville Cemetery, near Plummer, MN.

Visitation will be 5-8 PM, Monday, September 7, 2009 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Red Lake Falls, MN with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral service on Tuesday.

Jerold "Jake" James Schmitz was born on February 3, 1968 in Red Lake Falls, MN to Bernard J. and Clarice (Haupt) Schmitz the fourth child of six. He grew up on a farm by Plummer, until 1976 when his family moved to a farm north of Red Lake Falls. He was baptized in Brooks, MN and confirmed at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls, MN. He attended school in Red Lake Falls and graduated from Lafayette High School in 1986.

After high school, Jake had his own dairy farm for a couple of years and worked for area dairy farmers. He was united in marriage to Nancy Jo Bjorgan on February 20, 1993 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Red Lake Falls, MN. They lived in several places early in their marriage including, Beltrami, Fosston, Trail, and Plummer. They purchased a farm near Plummer 14 years ago.

Jake began work in 1995 at Arctic Cat. He worked as an inventory control/ forklift driver. He was also a farmer all of his life. He also did mechanical work on the side; fixing snowmobiles, four wheelers, and anything people would drag over to be fixed.

Jake was an avid snowmobiler. He enjoyed hunting and ice fishing, NASCAR, and sporting clays. He was a member of the Plummer Snowmobile Club (where he served as an officer), active lifetime member of the Plummer Sportsman Club, Immanuel Lutheran Church in Plummer, and the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association.

Jake is survived by his wife Nancy, Plummer, MN, 2 children Cory and Nicole at home, father Bernard J. (Lolly) Schmitz, Red Lake Falls, MN, grandmother Eunice Haupt, Red Lake Falls, MN, 5 siblings: Bernie (Dave) Larson, Warroad, MN, Arnie (Barb) Schmitz, Plummer, MN, Teresa (Mark) Klinkhammer, Winger, MN, John (Shana) Schmitz, East Bethel, MN, Bud (Jenn Andrus) Schmitz, Plummer, MN, and numerous nieces and nephews: Joe and Annette Larson, Matt, Amanda, and Ashley Schmitz, Nolan, Reed, and Noah Klinkhammer; Brittany and Damion Schmitz; and Matt Costa; father and mother in law: Gerald and Marion Bjorgan, Red Lake Falls, MN, sister in law Sandy (John) Klein, Red Lake Falls, MN, Steve Bjorgan, Montrose, CO, niece and nephews: Paul, Neil, Shari, and Michael Klein. Jake is also survived by many friends and other family.

Jake was preceded in death by his mother Clarice Schmitz, grandparents Edward Haupt, Ben and Elizabeth Schmitz, sister in law Sheri Bjorgan.