Kenneth Schmitz

Kenneth Earl Schmitz, age 88, of Wheaton, Minnesota passed away Thursday, October 12, 2017 at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota.

Funeral Services will be held Monday, October 16, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton with Rev. Michael Breach officiating. Organist will be Theresa Thiel with special music by Lynae Berger and Lonnie Schmidt.

Interment will be in St. John Lutheran Cemetery, rural Wheaton. Military Rites will be provided by the Merton Dale American Legion Post #80. Pallbearers will be grandchildren: Kurt Muehler, Gregg Muehler, Devon Schmitz, Peder Schmitz, Tracey Schmitz and Kaitlin Schmitz; great-grandchildren: Alex Schmitz, MacKenzie Schmitz, Katelynn Muehler, Emmilee Muehler, Rachel Muehler, Jeffrey Muehler and Leah Muehler; and great nephew Matt Schmitz.

Visitation will be held Sunday, October 15th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. Prayer Service and Time of Sharing Service at St. John Lutheran Church. Visitation will continue Monday morning one hour prior to service time at the church.

Kenneth Earl Schmitz was born November 13, 1928 to Peter and Elsie (Hess) Schmitz in Windsor Township, Traverse County Minnesota. He was baptized January 29, 1954 and confirmed January 31, 1954 at St. John Lutheran Church by Rev Truog.

He attended District 8 country school through the eighth grade and continued living with his parents and farming with his father. In 1951 Kenneth joined the U.S. Army and trained at Fort Benning, Georgia as a paratrooper in the 508th Infantry. He was honorably discharged as a corporal in 1953.

On November 15, 1953 he married Eunice (Tobeck) and moved to the farm where they raised their five children: Kathi, Keith, Steve, Glen and Kari. He loved being a family man and enjoyed his children and grandchildren immensely and always took the time to make special memories with each of them. Kenneth raised livestock and farmed for sixty-three years until his retirement in 2016. He loved surveying the crops and managing the land.

He had a great appreciation for the land; engaging in various types of hunting, fishing and most recently gardening. He especially enjoyed over seventy years of deer hunting with his family which included several generations.

His hobbies included playing cards, dancing and playing the accordion. He was also a valuable "lefty" for the area country baseball teams and also a former member of the Dumont Saints baseball team.

He served on the St John Lutheran Church Board of Elders and the Walls Township board for several years.

Kenneth is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Eunice, four children: Keith (Paulette) Schmitz, Steve (Ruth) Schmitz, Glen (Bonnie) Schmitz, Kari (Dan) Eilertson; six grandchildren: Kurt Muehler, Gregg Muehler, Tracey Schmitz, Devon Schmitz, Kaitlin Schmitz, Peder Schmitz; seven great-grandchildren: Katelynn Muehler, Emmilee Muehler, MacKenzie Schmitz, Alex Schmitz, Rachel Muehler, Jeffrey Muehler, Leah Muehler; one great-great-grandchild: Levi Schmitz; one sister-in-law: Alice Schmitz; and several nieces and nephews.

Kenneth was preceded in death by parents: Peter & Elsie Schmitz; siblings: Violet (Herbert) Kurth, Phillip (Fern) Schmitz, Norm (Alice) Schmitz, Vern (Phyllis) Schmitz; daughter: Kathi (Bill) Pistole; and grandson: Christopher Schmitz.