Eleanor Schmitz, 92

Newspaper clipping—date and publication not noted

A mass of Christian burial was concelebrated Monday, February 24 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia, Iowa for Eleanor Catherine Schmitz, 92, who died February 21, 1992 at Baptist Memorial Home in Harlan, Iowa. Rev. Daniel Galas was celebrant.

The homily was given by Rev. Edward Kelly. Serving as concelebrants were Rev. Paul Monahan, Rev. Dennis Trausch, Rev. Mike McLaughlin, Rev. Eugene Klein, Rev. Jim Cain, Rev. Tony Trasnek, Rev. Mike Irwin, Msgr. Michael W. Schwarte and Deacon Leo Gaul. Trausch conducted the committal service at St. Boniface Cemetery in Westphalia.

Eleanor Catherine Schmitz was born February 18, 1900 on a farm near Portsmouth, Iowa to William and Louise Horn Gubbels. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Portsmouth and attended St. Mary’s School.

She married Bernard Schmitz at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Portsmouth August 2, 1921. They had 11 children.

They farmed on the Schmitz family farm near Westphalia for 52 years before retiring in 1972 and moving into Westphalia. After the death of her husband October 27, 1982, she continued to reside in their home in Westphalia until November, 1984 when she became a resident of the Baptist Memorial Home in Harlan where she died.

She was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia, the Altar Society and the Rosary Society.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a son, Eugene, a daughter, Luana; four brothers, Leo, Lawrence, Herbert and Gregory; two sisters, Frances and Amelia; two grandchildren, Susie Schmitz and Joseph Hull; one great-granddaughter, Katherine Ann Bissen and a son-in-law, Paul Conkel.

She is survived by three sons, Eldred of Westphalia; Lester and his wife, Rita Schmitz of Portsmouth and LaVern and his wife, Mary Schmitz of Defiance; six daughters, Sister Berniece of Blair, Bernadette Conkel of Columbus, Nebraska, Marceline and her husband, Francis Bissen of Defiance, Luella Hull of Manning, Iowa, Arlene and her husband Robert Hodapp of Denver, Colorado and Sister Lorraine of Council Bluffs, Iowa; 36 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; two sisters, Sidonia Gubbels of Atlantic, Iowa and Helen Schwery of Omaha; one brother, Victor Gubbels of Atlantic; other relatives and friends.

Casket bearers were Mike Hill, Jim Schmitz, Dean Bissen, Brent Hodapp, Paul Schmitz, Galen Schmitz, Bobby Schmitz, and Darrell Bissen.

Pauley Funeral Home in Harlan was in charge of arrangements.

Find A Grave Memorial# 21256538

~~~Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file at the Blair, NE Library