Donald Schmidtz

Donald "Don" Schmidtz, age 79, of Lastrup, MN, passed away Friday, July 27, 2012 at the St. Cloud VA Health Care Systems in St. Cloud, MN, Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church in Lastrup, MN, with Fr. David Maciej and Fr. Laurn Virnig Concelebrating. Interment with Military Honors by the Pierz American Legion will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-8pm Monday, July 30, 2012 and 9-10am Tuesday, July 31st all at the church. There will be a Christian Mothers Rosary at 5pm Monday at church followed by Parish Prayers at 6pm and Knights of Columbus at 7pm. Don was born on May 14, 1933 to Ferdinand and Josephine Schmidtz. He attended grade school at District 127, graduating from 8th grade in 1947. He attended Little Falls High School briefly, then stayed home to help on the family farm. He answered his country's call and entered the U.S. Army in August, 1954. He served in Korea before being discharged in 1956. On returning home, he purchased his farm, also doing custom work for neighbors and driving school bus. He met and married Caroline Wruck on August 21, 1961 at St. Mathias Catholic Church in Ft. Ripley, MN. They became the proud parents of Jerome (Roxanna) of Little Falls, Patricia Karnes (Lonnie) of Parkers Prairie, Robert of Pierz, Donna Girtz (Jeremy) of Freedhem, Barbara Specker (Ron Jr.) of Little Falls, Eileen Espelien (James) of Little Falls, Allen (Melissa) of Ham Lake, Dale (Diane) of Lastrup, Angela Wise (David) of Basehor, KS, Loren of Lastrup, Stephanie Talberg (Dan) of Holdingford and Mark (fiance Mandy) of Pierz; 13 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Eugene of Bellingham, WA, Evelyn Sipper of Duluth, Doris Weiss of Lastrup, David of Little Falls, Edward of Minneapolis, Marvin of Fridley, Maryann Kororll of Little Falls, Carol Koroll of Little Falls, Bonita Van Ranst of St. Paul and Sheila Przybilla of Fridley; and many nieces and nephews. Don was an active member of the Rich Prairie American Legion Post in Pierz, served many positions on the local and 6th District level and Morrison County Council, was a member of St. Isidore Council Knights of Columbus, being past Grand Knight and was a member of the 40 and 8 in Little Falls. He was also active in St. John Nepomuk Parish in Lastrup serving for many years as an usher and choir member. He was preceded in death by his parents Ferdinand and Josephine, and Brother-in-Law Robert Sipper. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends. Honored to carry his casekt, will be his six sons.