Harold Mathias Schmit

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be directed to Happy Siesta Health Care Center of Remsen, Orange City Hospice or St. Anthony Catholic Church in Hospers.

Harold M. Schmit90, of Hospers, IA, died Saturday, June 1, 2019 surrounded by his wife and children at Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen, IA.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Hospers, with Father Dan Greving officiating and Deacon Dan Goebel assisting.  Burial will follow in the St. Anthony Cemetery in Hospers.  Military honors will be conducted by Reuter Post 423 American Legion of Hospers.  Visitation with family present will be 4-7 p.m. Monday.  There will be a rosary by the Knights of Columbus, 4thdegree K of C chalice presentation and a vigil prayer service all at 5 p.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Hospers. Visitation will resume 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the church.

Harold was born on Oct. 14, 1928 to Clemens and Mathilda (Gloden) Schmit at rural Hospers, Iowa.  He was raised and educated in the Hospers area and received his education at St. Anthony’s Catholic School.  He was then engaged in farming with his father.  He served in the US Army from April 21, 1951 until April 23, 1953 serving a year and a half in Germany near the city of Frankfurt.  He was then transferred to the Army reserve until April 8, 1957.  After his discharge he returned to Hospers to farm with his father and in 1957 he began farming on his own.

On Jan. 2, 1960 he married Beatrice Bange at St. Louis, MO.  They made their home near Hospers where they were engaged in farming until 1994 when they moved into Hospers.  Harold had been a resident of Happy Siesta since April 10, 2019.

He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church Hospers and was a past board member, past Spalding School Board member, , 4thDegree Knights of Columbus Garrigan Assembly, past VFW Post 5347 member at Granville now the Granville Veterans and American Legion Post 423 at Hospers.  He had also served 15 years on the Sheldon-Hospers Elevator Board. He loved spending time with his family and especially his grandchildren. He also enjoyed playing cards and dominoes.

Survivors include: his wife, Beatrice of Hospers; 1 daughter, Ann (Cliff) McMurray of Kansas City, MO, 5 sons, Dennis (Deb) of Alton, IA, Christopoher (Ruth Ann), Kenneth (Pam), James (Joan) all of Hospers, Richard (Deanna) of Omaha, NE; 20 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, 2 brothers, Sylvester of Hospers and Cyril (Clarice) Schmit of Remsen, IA; 2 sisters, Geraldine Den Hartog of Hospers, Lucy DeRoos of Algona, IA.

Preceded in death by: his parents, 2 sisters, Elanore Marie Schmit and Bernice (Oscar) Block, 1 sister-in-law, Germaine Schmit, 3 brothers-in-law, Dewain DeRoos, George W. Kersten and Neal Den Hartog.

Casket bearers will be: his grandsons, Shane Schmit, Dustin Schmit, Christopher Kordick, Matthew Schmit, Cody Schmit and Justin Schmit.

Honorary bearers will be members of the 4th degree Knights of Columbus.