Germaine Schmit

Germaine Schmit, 74 of Hospers, IA died Monday, July 16, 2012 at Orange City Area Health System Hospital in Orange City, IA.
        Funeral Service will be Thursday, July 19, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. from St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Hospers, IA with Rev. Terry Roder officiating.  Burial will be in St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery in Hospers, IA. Visitation will be anytime after 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, 2012.  There will be a parish rosary at 5 p.m. and a vigil prayer service at 7 p.m., all at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Hospers.  Family will be present after 4 p.m.  Services have been entrusted to the Fisch Funeral Home & Monument of Remsen.  Condolences may be sent online to www.fischfh.com.
        Germaine was born on May 14, 1938, in rural Hospers, IA, the daughter of Clarence J. & Catherine A. (Schwebach) Stallmann.  Raised and educated in Hospers, she attended St. Anthony’s Catholic School through the eighth grade and graduated from Hospers Public High School in 1956.  After graduation she worked for a couple of years as a bookkeeper at Starrett’s department store.
        Germaine married Sylvester Schmit on September 23, 1958, in Hospers, IA.  The couple made their home on a farm near Hospers.  She was a devoted wife and dedicated mother and grandmother to her children and grandchildren.  Germaine enjoyed sewing, gardening, reading, and collecting antiques. 
        Germaine volunteered at St. Anthony’s School for many years until her health prevented her from doing so.  She was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church and church guild as well as a member of the Catholic Daughters of America.
        Germaine is survived by her husband, Sylvester Schmit, of Hospers, IA; her five children, David (Lori) Schmit of Sioux City, IA, Michael Schmit of Hospers, IA, Gary (Amy) Schmit of Iowa City, IA, Mark (Sherri) Schmit of Cape Fair, MO, and Denise (Charles) Witcombe of Victoria, MN; her fourteen grandchildren, Daniel (Lindsey), Bryan (Angela), Michelle, Matthew, Bill, Kim, Jorie, Andrew, Rachel, Jessica, Marissa, and Jeffrey Schmit, and Libby and Lucy Witcombe; two great-grandchildren, Ayden and Lexi Schmit; her siblings, Joan (Norbert) Klein of Sanborn, IA, John Stallmann of Pigeon, MI, Marlene (Tony) Pape of Sheldon, IA, Joyce (Dennis) Holles of Dell Rapids, SD, Mary Jane Stallmann (Gordon Schofer) of Wichita, KS, Dianne Stallman of Arlington, VA, David (Connie) Stallmann of Sebastopol, CA, Judy Stallmann of Columbia, MO,  Alice (Marvin) Crayton of Brighton, CO, Karen (Jim) Dagel-Whitham of Humboldt, IA, Steve (Debbie) Stallmann of Hospers, IA, Tom Stallmann of Ft. Collins, CO, Brenda Stallmann of Clarkson Valley, MO, and Nick (Dianna) Stallmann of Hospers, IA; her sisters-in-law, Jerry Den Hartog of Hospers, IA, Bernice (Oscar) Block of Remsen, IA, and Lucy De Roos of Algona, IA; her brothers-in-law Harold (Bea) Schmit of Hospers, IA, and Cyril (Clarice) Schmit of Remsen, IA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
        She was preceded in death by her parents and one granddaughter, Ashley Schmit. 
        Casketbearers will be Daniel, Bryan, Matthew, Bill, Andrew, and Jeffrey Schmit. The family would like to thank the caregivers that assisted Sylvester in caring for Germaine during the final years of her life.
        Memorial contributions may be made in Germaine’s name to Spalding Catholic Schools.