Lawrence Schmitz

LAWRENCE SCHMITZ

Ottumwa

Lawrence H. Schmitz, 78, of rural Kirkville, died at 4:55 p.m. April 25, 2015, at Hospice House in Ottumwa.

He was born July 17, 1936, on the family farm to Oscar H. and Mary Rose Guggerty Schmitz. He married Mary Ellen Clarke on Feb. 17, 1962, in Centerville, recently celebrating 53 years.

Lawrence graduated from Fremont High School and Iowa State University. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve. Lawrence was a retired farmer, farming the Schmitz Century Farm. He had previously been a fertilizer salesman in Indiana, Ohio and Iowa. He was a charter member of the Wapello County Rural Fire Agency, having served 30 years as chairman and/or vice chairman. He was a past board member of Wapello County Historical Society and a member of Rippling Waters Questers. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ottumwa.

Lawrence enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, hosting many memorable gatherings at the farm over the years.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen; a sister, Marguerite Larson Pettus of Fort Collins, Colo.; two brothers, Ron Schmitz of Budapest, Hungary, and Richard (Tina) Schmitz of Cedar Rapids; a brother-in-law, George Cavanaugh of Cedar Rapids; two sisters-in-law, Jean Clarke (Steve) Ayers of Centerville and Mary Jo (Doug) Finn of Sebring, Fla.; nephews and nieces, Chris Cavanaugh of Siloam Springs, Ark., Craig (Karen) Cavanaugh, Curt Cavanaugh, Cary Cavanaugh, Charles (Tammy) Cavanaugh and Cecilia (Tom) Gustafson, all of Cedar Rapids, Max Schmitz and Glenn (Kim) Schmitz, both of Pittsburg, Pa., Elizabeth (Ryan) Bultemeyer of Beavercreek, Ohio, Andy (Erica) Finn of Shelby Township, Mich., Rita (Mark) Rau of Golden, Colo., Mary Larson of Fort Collins, Colo., Jason Clarke of Hillsboro, Ore., Robin (Rudy) McIlhinney of Kent, Wash., Cassie (Tony) Gartung of Riverside, Calif., and Alexa and Alicia Schmitz of Cedar Rapids; many great-nieces and great-nephews; and special friends, Marshal and Hunter Wilz of Eddyville.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Eugene Schmitz and Max Schmitz; a sister, Rose Marie Cavanaugh; a sister-in-law, Joanne Schmitz; and two nephews, Eric Schmitz and Larry Larson.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Ottumwa, with Father Patrick Hilgendorf presiding. Burial will be in Westview Cemetery in Kirkville. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Reece Funeral Home in Ottumwa. A Christian wake service will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday with the family present until 8 p.m.

Memorials may be made to St. Patrick Catholic Church, Wapello County Rural Volunteer Fire Department, Wapello County Historical Society or hospice serving Davis and Wapello counties, 927 Pennsylvania Ave., Ottumwa, IA 52501.