Edward Ed Schmitz

Edward 'Ed' Schmitz January 11, 1918 - March 23, 2013

Edward J. Schmitz, age 95, of Faribault, and a lifelong farmer in Bridgewater and Forest Township, died Saturday, March 23, 2013 at the Northfield Long Term Care Center, following a short illness.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 139 Mercy Drive, in Faribault. Burial will be held at the St. Lawrence Cemetery, Faribault.

Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault on Tuesday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and at the church on Wednesday for one hour prior to services.

The family prefers that memorials be directed to Bethlehem Academy High School or the Faribault Area Hospice in memory of Ed.

Edward Joseph, the son of William and Agnes (Brown) Schmitz, was born on January 11, 1918 at his family home in Bridgewater Township, Rice County, MN. Ed attended country school at the Forest Township School and helped his family on their farm. On October 3, 1940 he was united in marriage to Susan Ludwig at the St. Lawrence Church in Faribault. After their marriage they farmed Ed''s family farm in Bridgewater Township until 1973 when they moved to the Forest Township farm. They lived there until 2003 when they moved to Cardinal Pointe Senior Living in Faribault. Ed was a hard worker all of his life and he passed along that work ethic to his family. He loved spending time with his family and playing cards, especially euchre and poker. He learned how to fly and eventually owned his own plane. He was an avid fisherman and also enjoyed hunting, bowling and all sports. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 889, the Faribault Aerie 1460 Fraternal Order of Eagles and the St. Lawrence Society.

He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Susan Schmitz of Faribault; by seven children, Carol Ernste of Faribault, MN, Bill (Anne Polese) Schmitz of Downingtown, PA, Don

(Jeanne) Schmitz of St. Paul, MN, Patty (Dan) Pflaum of Nerstrand, MN, Tom (Faye) Schmitz of Dundas, MN, Jan (Glenn) Scarlett of Houschton, GA and Teresa (Mike) Smith of Cannon Falls, MN; by twenty-one grandchildren and thirty-two great grandchildren and by nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandson, Cory Ernste, son-in-law, Richard Ernste, two brothers, Alex and Justin Schmitz and six sisters, Regina Dunleavy, Laura Thibodeau, Helen LaCroix, Florence Becker, Olive Skluzacek and Ruth Gillen.