Elmer A. Schmitz

Elmer A. Schmitz, age 96, of Fond du Lac, formerly of St. Peter, passed away Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at the St. Francis Home in Fond du Lac.

He was born April 27, 1928, to William & Florence (Freund) Schmitz. Elmer attended and graduated from St. Peter’s Catholic School in St. Peter.

On October 25, 1949, he married Julitta Abler at St. Cloud Catholic Church in St. Cloud. Julitta preceded him in death on September 29, 2020.

Elmer farmed in the Town of Taycheedah near St. Peter and also worked at Mercury Marine until retiring in 1991.

Elmer was a member of Holy Family Parish-St. Peter where he was a Mass server after retiring as well as assisting on the bereavement committee. He also was a member of the Holy Name Society, the St. Joseph Society, and participated in other various ministries.

He was an avid gardener.

Survivors include his four sons, James “Jim” (Jane) Schmitz of Malone “St. Peter”, Robert “Bob” Schmitz (fiancée, Kay Grady) of Sheboygan, Steve (Nancy) Schmitz of Mount Calvary, and Ken (Kaye) Schmitz of Fond du Lac; his daughter-in-law, Virginia “Ginny” Schmitz of Malone; his grandchildren, Mark, Jeff, and Daniel Schmitz, Carrie Schwoerer, Stephanie Olive, Ryan Schmitz and Bill Schmitz, Michelle Wilson, Eric Schmitz, Craig, Kim, and Kelsey Schmitz, Noah Schmitz, Brianne Stahmann, and Becky Schmitz; 18 great-grandchildren; his brother, Gerald (Bernice) Schmitz of St. Peter; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Lillian Schmitz, Lorraine Ballwanz, Marian (Ron) Freund, Diana Abler, Kathy (Al) Kempf, and Gerald Diederichs. He is further survived by numerous nieces; nephews; other relatives; and friends.

Preceding him in death were his wife, Julitta; his son, David Schmitz; an infant daughter, Catherine Schmitz; a daughter-in-law, Lynn Schmitz; his parents, William & Florence Schmitz; his father-in-law & mother-in-law, William & Rose Abler; his brothers, Clarence (Elfrieda) Schmitz, Louie Schmitz, Orlando Schmitz and his first wife, Ruth, and second wife, Marge, and Jerome (Joan) Schmitz; his sisters-in-law & brothers-in-law, Wilfred (Marie) Abler, Rita (Melvin) Diederichs, Bernice Diederichs, Roger (Mary) Abler, Donald Abler, and Robert Ballwanz.

A Liturgy Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at Holy Family Parish-St. Peter’s Church in St. Peter, N8079 Church Road, Malone, WI 53049. Rev. Larry Abler, OFM Cap will officiate. Elmer will be laid to rest next to his wife, Julitta, in the church cemetery following the Mass.

Visitation: Family and friends may visit with Elmer’s family at the Sippel Funeral Home, 1311 Thorp Street, St. Cloud, WI 53079, on Monday, February 10th from 3:00 PM until 6:30 PM with a rosary service held at the funeral home at 6:30. Visitation will also be at the church in St. Peter Tuesday morning, February 11th from 9:00 AM until 10:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established in his name.

Elmer’s family expresses their sincere appreciation to the staff at the St. Francis Terrace and St. Francis Home for the wonderful care given to him and compassion shown to the family. The family also expresses their gratitude to the SSM Health Hospice care givers for their support.

For further details, please contact the Sippel Funeral Home in St. Cloud (920) 999-2291 or visit www.sippelfuneralhome.net.