Gary Lee "Schmitty" Schmitz

Gary Lee “Schmitty: Schmitz, 73 years old, of Remsen, IA, died Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, at Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen, IA after a brief battle with cancer.
      Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen with Rev. William McCarthy officiating.  Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Remsen.  Visitation will be anytime after 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011.  There will be a parish rosary at 4 p.m. and a vigil prayer service at 7:30 p.m. all at the Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen, IA.
      Gary was born April 7, 1938, at LeMars, IA, the son of Andrew & Rose (Jaminet) Schmitz.  Gary lived his entire life in Remsen some of which was on a farm just outside of Remsen.  He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Remsen and then became a member of the United States Army Reserve where he honorably served his country until his discharge.
      Gary was united in marriage to Judy Reinert in 1957 at Marcus Iowa.  The couple later divorced.
      Gary started working at a very young age, helping on the family farm and later worked as a truck driver, road construction laborer and for Bituminous in Remsen.
      Schmitty was well known to work hard and play hard. No matter what he always gave 100%. Later in life he continued to stay busy, despite his physical limitations.
      Gary enjoyed spending time with friends, fishing and helping others in the community doing odd jobs.  He truly enjoyed the companionship of his “sidekick” cookie (a Chihuahua he rescued from the humane society over 15 years ago. Cookie died July 2011).
      Gary enjoyed the outdoors and spent as much time as he could doing yard work, keeping his vehicle spotless and gardening.  He grew the best vegetables that were enjoyed by many.
      He will be greatly missed by all.
      Survivors include; his four daughters, Rhonda Wittkop and her friend Marc Steward of Cherokee, IA, Barb Port and her friend Jim Benson of Merrill, IA, Linda Staab and her husband Steve of Barnett, MO, Carla Steele and her husband Chuck of Cherokee, IA; eight grandchildren, Mike Wittkop of Aurora, IL, Adam Wittkop of Marshalltown, IA, Shiela Fuller of Brunsville, IA, Jeff Bohlken of LeMars, IA, Zach Port of LeMars, IA, Nick Weiler of Olathe, KS, Aaron Mummert of Sioux Falls, SD, Haley Mummert of Cherokee, IA; 11 great-grandchildren; one brother, David Schmitz and his wife Donna of Arizona.
      Preceded by: his parents & grandparents.
      Casket Bearers will be: Jerry & Joe Arens, Dan Jaminet, Joe Kane, Loren Lunders & Butch Tentinger.