Gerhard W. Schmitz M.D.

Gerhard W. Schmitz M.D., 84, of Scottsbluff, passed away Thursday, April 26, 2012 at Golden Living Center in Scottsbluff.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday May 5, at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Scottsbluff with Fr. Vince Parsons as Celebrant. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff.
Visitation will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 4, at Jolliffe Funeral Home in Scottsbluff with a rosary beginning at 7 p.m. also at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, the St. Agnes School Foundation, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, or the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.jolliffefuneralhome.com. Jolliffe Funeral Home of Scottsbluff is assisting the family.
Gerhard was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to Henry and Anna (Korte) Schmitz on Nov. 21, 1927. He attended Latin School for his 7th and 8th grades, graduating from St. Xavier High School in 1945. After high school, he attended Xavier University for pre-med and in 1947 was accepted into Medical School at the University of Cincinnati. Following graduation in 1951, he carried out his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Denver, where he met Betty Jo Reinhardt. They were married at St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Valentine's Day, 1953, in Fort Collins, Colo. Shortly thereafter he was inducted into the Navy and spent 7 months at Camp Pendleton, Calif. He was assigned to Military Sea Transportation Service and spent the rest of his enlistment as Ship's Physician for transferring troops and families to various ports in the Pacific, including South Korea during the Korean War.
Gerhard returned to St. Joseph's Hospital in Denver to complete a five-year surgical residency after being discharged from the Navy in 1955. He and his family moved to Scottsbluff in November 1959 to begin a general surgery practice, retiring in 1989. During his years of practice, he served as president of St. Mary's Hospital medical staff, the Nebraska Division of the American Cancer Society, and the Scottsbluff County Medical Society. He was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, and Elks club. Ger was a bridge Life Master and remained an avid bridge player during his retirement. He also enjoyed traveling, playing golf, and spending time with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Betty, of Scottsbluff; son, Doug Schmitz, M.D. and fiancée Joann Childress of Cheyenne, Wyo.; grandchildren, Danny Schmitz of Copper Center, Alalska; Jennifer Schmitz of Cheyenne, Wyo.; and Joann's children, Kelvin (Enrique) Childress and Lexi Childress; daughter, Debbie (Scott) Van Noy of Scottsbluff; grandchildren, Jill Van Noy of Parker, Colo.; Jacob (Katy) Van Noy of Lincoln; and Julie (Brandon) Gilbreath of Douglas, Wyo.; son, Dan (Jackie) Schmitz of North Platte; grandchildren, Steve (Tara) Schmitz of Gillette, Wyo.; Kyle Schmitz of Jackson Hole, Wyo.; and Erik Schmitz of Cheyenne, Wyo.; daughter, Diane (Greg) Behm of Fort Collins, Colo.; grandchildren, Margaret Behm of Boulder, Colo.; and John Behm of Ft. Collins, Colo.; great-grandson, Jackson Van Noy of Lincoln; sister-in-law, Betty Schmitz of Monroe, Ohio; a niece; and five nephews.
Preceding Gerhard in death were his parents; and brother, Bill. The family would like to thank the en-tire staff at Golden Living Center for the excellent care they provided.