Richard Schmitz

RICHARD PAUL SCHMITZ

Cedar Rapids

Richard Paul Schmitz, 70, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Monday, Oct. 30, 2017.

Funeral Mass will be on Friday, Nov. 3, at 10 a.m.

at All Saints Catholic Church with the Rev. John R. Flaherty officiating. A visitation will start at 9 a.m. at the church.

Richard was born Oct. 20, 1947, the son of Oscar and Mary (Guggerty) Schmitz. He graduated from Eddyville High School in 1964 and then attended St. Ambrose College. He started working for Link-Belt Speeder in 1968 as a part sales supervisor, retiring in 2002. Richard then purchased Wernimont Display in 2002 and retired in 2014.

He married the love of his life, Christine Basile, on Aug. 8, 1970, at All Saints Catholic Church. His main focus in life was family, loving and caring for everyone. He showed this caring by participating in the Sponsor Couples Program, co-sponsoring a couple from Poland, and by helping couples adopt children from Third World countries. Richard and Tina formed a rosary group and sent those rosaries throughout the world. They attended religious conferences each year and enjoyed sharing information and experiences.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Marguerite Larson Pettus and Rose Marie Cavanaugh; and brothers, Eugene, Max and Lawrence.

Left to cherish Rich's memories are his wife of 47 years, Tina; daughters, Alexa D. Schmitz and Alicia E. Schmitz; grandson, Jonathan C. Collins; brother, Ron Schmitz of Budapest, Hungary; sister-in-law, Mary Ellen Schmitz; and brother-in-law, George Cavanaugh. Rich also is survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins whom he loved.

A memorial fund has been established.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.