David J. "Dave" Schmitz

1952 - 2017

Schmitz, David "Dave" J.

David J. Schmitz, age 65, of Malone, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on Thursday, August 17, 2017, at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa following a courageous battle with leukemia.

Dave was born April 16, 1952, in Fond du Lac to Elmer & Julitta (Abler) Schmitz. He attended St. Peter Catholic School and graduated from Goodrich High School in 1970. On November 16, 1974, he married Virginia "Ginny" Sippel at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Mount Calvary.

He worked at Mercury Marine as a machinist. He later began working at American Orthodontics of Sheboygan as a tool and die maker; he retired from there after 27 years. Dave attended Moraine Park Technical College to complete his degree in Computer Integrated Manufacturing and later finished his education as a Tool and Die Maker from Lakeshore Technical College.

Dave was a member of St. Isidore Parish-Holy Cross Church, the Knights of Columbus, and the Mount Calvary Athletic Club. He is a retired member of the Mount Calvary Volunteer Fire Department where he served for 30 years.

Dave was always driven to help others and spent countless hours volunteering within the community. He particularly enjoyed coaching and umpiring for youth baseball teams. He was very well known for putting the needs of others first and never saying "no" to anyone who asked for help.

Dave was a loving husband and father who took great pleasure in spending time with his family and friends. He was known for his infectious laugh and his ability to soothe any fussy child to sleep in record time (AKA, the Sandman).

Survivors include his wife, Ginny; his four children and their families, Carrie (Bradley) Schwoerer of Madison, Stephanie (Jim) Olive of Waukesha, Ryan (Erin) Schmitz of Richfield, and Bill (Kelli) Schmitz of Vadnais Heights, MN; his seven grandchildren, Nathan and Alyssa Schwoerer, Elliott and Amelia Olive, Elizabeth Schmitz, and Liam and Kira Schmitz; his parents, Elmer and Julitta Schmitz of Fond du Lac; his brothers, Jim (Jane) Schmitz of St. Peter, Bob Schmitz (Kay Grady) of Manitowoc, Steve (Nancy) Schmitz of Mount Calvary, and Ken (Kaye) Schmitz of Taycheedah. Dave is further survived by his in-laws, Jerry (Mary) Sippel, Mary (Dave) Andrew, Edie (Stan) Birschbach,and Alice (Don) Runge, all of Fond du Lac, JoAnn (Gerry) Halbach of Marytown, and John (Marlene) Sippel of Mount Calvary; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.

Preceding him in death were his infant sister, Catherine Schmitz; his maternal grandparents, William and Rose Abler; his paternal grandparents, William and Florence Schmitz; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Antonia and Leo Sippel; two sisters-in-law, Lynn Schmitz and Carol Sippel.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, August 23, 2017, at St. Isidore Parish-Holy Cross Church, 308 S. County Road W, Mount Calvary, WI 53057. Rev. Gary Wegner, OFM Cap and Rev. Zoilo Garibay, OFM Cap will concelebrate. Dave will be laid to rest in the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation: Family and friends may call at St. Isidore Parish-Holy Cross Church on Tuesday, August 22nd from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM and again Wednesday morning, August 23rd from 9:00 AM until 10:30 AM. A prayer service will be held at the church Tuesday evening at 8:00 PM.

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

To honor Dave's generous spirit, please consider joining the "Be the Match Donor Registry" to help others with leukemia/lymphoma; www.bethematch.org

Dave's family wishes to express their heart-felt appreciation to the doctors and staff at St. Luke's Hospital and Froedtert Hospital for the compassionate care given to him.