Linus Joseph Schmitz

Linus Joseph Schmitz, age 75, of Cottage Grove, was born in 1947 in Regal, MN to Anton and Anna Schmitz.

Linus graduated from Paynesville High School. He broke the record for the 440-yard run at 54.5 seconds in 1963 which remained unbroken for many years. He joined the Army reserves with an honorable discharge. Linus worked many years in the bar/restaurant business as a bartender and manager, including the Bar Manager at the Crystal Hills Supper Club in Paynesvile, MN where he met his wife. He married Margaret in 1975. They moved to the Twin Cities and he built a successful lawn maintenance business that he operated for over 20 years.

Linus had two loves, his family, and sports. Always attending the kids' events, whether it was dance recitals for his daughter or baseball/basketball games for his son. He created a new town ball team called the Atomics and ran it for 4 years where his son was a player while in college. A Twins fan, but he always rooted for the Yankees as he was a good friend of Bobby Murcer who played for the Yankees. Linus met Bobby Murcer while in the Army Reserves.

He was also big in supporting our annual Halloween productions of the "Wizard of Oz" and "The Addams Family". It was like a movie set with music, costumes/props/decorations and actors acting out their parts. Linus enjoyed participating in playing "the wizard" in the "Wizard of Oz" and "Gomez" in "the Addams Family" productions. He had an amazing talent to build or fix anything that we dreamed up.

Linus is survived by his wife Margaret; children, Aaron (Beverly) and Jillian (Stefan); 2 grandchildren; Stella and Sam; sister, Sylvia; and other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Anton and Anna, and 8 siblings, Clement, Norbert, Zeno, Isidore, Cyril, Melania, Hedwig, and Teckla.

Memorial Mass will be Saturday, April 29, at 10am with visitation 9-10am at St. Rita's Catholic Church, 8694-80th St. S, Cottage Grove. Interment at St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery, St. Paul Park.

LIVESTREAM INFORMATION:  For those who would like to participate in Linus's service via livestream, you can watch the service on Saturay, April 29, 2023 at 10:00 am.  It can be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of this page, and "CLICK PLAY" to begin.  Please leave a message of support on our Tribute Wall to let the family know you were able to watch the service.  If you are having troubles with the Livestream, please accept our apologies, but the service will be available to watch later in the day.