John Schmitz, 74, died on Monday, January 4, 2010 at Sanford MeritCare Pallative Care Hospital in Fargo, ND.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:30 PM, Friday, January 8, 2010 at St. Bernards Catholic Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Father Rick Lambert presiding. Burial will be in St. Bernards Cemetery, Thief River Falls, MN.

Visitation will be 5-8 PM, Thursday, January 7, 2010 at St. Bernards Catholic Church in Thief River Falls, MN with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral mass on Friday at the church.


John Joseph Schmitz was born July 20, 1935 in Thief River Falls, MN the eleventh of thirteen children born to John and Anna (Pahlen) Schmitz. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls. John attended St. Joseph Catholic School in Red Lake Falls and graduated from Lafayette High School in Red Lake Falls in 1953.

John enlisted into service with the United States Army and served in Germany. Following his Honorable Discharge, John enrolled in college and graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1960.

He was united in marriage to Rose Kraft on January 30, 1960 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls, MN. To this union there were five children born, Jeff, Margo, Brent, Anne, and Karen.

John taught for two years in Pine River, MN, the family then moved to Thief River Falls in 1962 where John taught at Lincoln High School until his retirement in 1995. During his time at Lincoln he coached football and hockey. John was an active member in his church and community and was known to many as Coach or Tiger .

Survivors include his loving wife of almost 50 years, Rose of Thief River Falls; children, Jeff Schmitz of Roosevelt, MN, Margo Schmitz of Thief River Falls, Brent (Sabrina) Schmitz of Devils Lake, ND, and Karen Schmitz of Eden Prairie, MN; grandchildren, Jordan, Cambreigh and Braden; sisters, Lucille Desotell of Clarissa, MN and Marilyn Newton of Euclid, MN; brothers, Louis (Jean) Schmitz of Farmington, MN and Tony (Crystal) Schmitz of Bagley, MN; and many other relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by daughter, Anne; granddaughter, Cassandra; parents; sisters, Elizabeth, Margaret, and Clarice; brothers, David, Joe, Vincent, Sylvester and Leonard.


Accompanist: Polly Beyer
Cantor:
Reader: Randy Schmitz
Casketbearers: Jeff Mumm, Charlie Cornell, Lynn Dyer, Jim Sims, Tim Olson, Glen Peters
Honorary Casketbearers: Johns nieces & nephews
Memorials are suggested to the Parkinsons Disease Foundation