Mary Jean "Jeanie" Schmitz

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen, IA with Father Timothy Pick officiating and Deacon Doug Heeren assisting.  Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Remsen, IA.  Visitation with family present will be from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Tuesday at Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen.  Services have been entrusted to the Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen.  The funeral will be live-streamed at www.fischfh.com

Jeanie was born Jan. 1, 1940, the daughter of Joseph & Rose (Langel) Rolfes (A very proud New Year’s baby and loved celebrating the beginning of a new year).  She was raised in LeMars, IA and attended Gehlen Catholic Schools graduating in 1959

She married Michael “Mike” Ludwig Aug. 26, 1961 at Le Mars, IA. Mike died Feb. 7, 1988.

She married Norbert Schmitz on Jan. 12, 2002.

Over the years she lived in Remsen IA, Odebolt IA, Denison IA, Albia IA, Indianola IA, Currie MN, Slayton MN, Worthington MN, Ankeny IA at the Suites of Ankeny.  Jeanie worked at various jobs including, Ludwig Ford as a Bookkeeper, Odebolt-Arthur School District as a cook, Spring Lake Country Club as a cook, Denison Country Club as the manager, KLBA Radio Station in advertising, Simpson College as the catering manager and Mercy Hospital in food service.

She was devoted to the Catholic faith her entire life and where there was daily mass you would find Jeanie. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, LeMars IA, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Remsen IA, St. Martin’s Catholic Church, Odebolt IA, St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Denison IA, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Albia IA, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Indianola IA, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Currie MN, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Worthington MN & Our Lady of Immaculate Heart Catholic Church, Ankeny IA.  She was also a member of the Catholic Daughters of America.

Jeanie loved sweet treats like chocolates and strawberry shakes, playing BINGO at The Suites, cooking and baking, traveling dollars for her grandkids - every time one would come to visit, she would hand them a traveling dollar.  She was a caregiver, faithful …active member of the Catholic Church, would go to daily mass if she could and would say the rosary and her prayers every day. Her kids would often call her to get family and friends on Jeanie’s prayer list.

Survivors include her husband, Norbert Schmitz of Slayton MN; her children, Beth Ann Ludwig of Marion IA, John (Laura) Ludwig of Indianapolis IN, Matthew Ludwig of Waukee IA, Bill (Sue) Ludwig of Ankeny IA, Nicole (Tom) Cooney, of Waukee IA; step-children, Barb (Gary) Polk, Mary Lynn (Quint) Fabro, Nancy (Doug) Shellum, Doug (Karen) Schmitz, Becky Ankrum, Sandy (Larry) Jarmer, Danny (Sue) Schmitz; 10 grandchildren, Cole (Nicole) Duke, Zeth Schau, Kyle (Ashley) Schau, Joseph Ludwig, Michael Ludwig, Amanda Ludwig, Jacob Ludwig, Tyler Cooney, Molly Cooney, Sydney Ludwig and several step-grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild arriving in March of 2023; several step- great grandchildren; sister, Lois (Paul) Woll of Worthington MN; sisters-in-law, Terry Rolfes, Judy (Paul) Tamisiea, Bonnie Veth, Sharon (Chris) Ames and Tonia (Bob) Lauer.

She was preceded by her husband, Michael Ludwig (first husband); her parents, Joe & Rose Rolfes; in-laws Frank T. & Harriet Ludwig; her children, Mary Ludwig and Thomas Ludwig both in infancy; her grandson, Brandon Schau; brothers, Al (Kitty) Rolfes and Wally Rolfes; sisters, Florence and Rosella Rolfes who died as children, Ann (Evon) Puetz, Rosie (Virgil) Sitzmann, Esther (Ron) Kurth, Leona Schmitz, Betty (Dwight) Wolbers; brother-in-law, Ed Veth; step-grandson, Mitchell Jarmar.

Casket Bearers will be her grandchildren, Cole Duke, Zeth Schau, Kyle Schau, Joseph Ludwig, Michael Ludwig, Amanda Ludwig, Jacob Ludwig, Tyler Cooney, Molly Cooney, Sydney Ludwig