Edward Schmitz

Edward G. "Ed" Schmitz, age 74 of Paynesville died peacefully Wednesday, November 18, 2015, at the Golden Living Center in Franklin, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, November 24 at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Jeremy Theis officiating. Interment will be at St. Paul's Cemetery in Sauk Centre.

Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church.

Edward George Schmitz was born January 31, 1941 in New Munich, Minnesota to Theodore and Veronica (Wolbeck) Schmitz. He completed school until the 8th grade at Elrosa Country School and Sauk Centre High School. After school Ed worked at the Sauk Centre bowling alley setting pins along with working on the farm. He later went back to school to get certified in welding. He used his training both professionally and personally until the end of his life. He especially enjoyed tinkering on his hobby farm, raising animals, fishing, hand carving Native American artifacts, and making furniture.

Ed is survived by his ex-wife, Beverly Schmitz of Watkins; children, Rob (Donna) Schmitz of Big Stone City, SD, Randy (Gerlinde) of Hinesville, GA, Brian Schmitz of St. Cloud, Steven (Maria) Schmitz of Hawick, and Laurie (John) Tracy of Morris; brothers and sisters, John (Betty) Schmitz of Litchfield, Edmund (Diane) Schmitz of Medina, OH, Edwin (Myrna) Schmitz of Darwin, Sylvester (Kathy) Schmitz of Hudson, WI, Mary Brenner of Little Falls, Matilda (Roman) Petermeier of Sauk Centre; 17 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Heidi Sturges; brothers, Wilfred Schmitz and Arnold Schmitz.