Edward Wm Schmitz

Edward Wm. Schmitz, 77 of Trempealeau, Wis., passed away on Thursday, August 23, 2012 at Agrace HospiceCare of Madison, Wis. He was born May 6, 1935 in La Crosse to Edward J. and Mabel (Bloss) Schmitz and graduated from La Crosse Aquinas High School in 1953. On January 10, 1959 he married Joan Abicht at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in La Crosse. Edward had worked in sales his entire career beginning with Noble Shoes in La Crosse and later with Johnson Hills Department Store in Oshkosh and Montgomery Wards. In 1985 he and Joan moved to Arizona where he worked as a sales counselor for the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix Catholic Cemeteries until his retirement in 1999. In October of 2005 they returned to the La Crosse area where Edward belonged to St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Trempealeau, the Trempealeau Lions Club, Eagles Aerie 1254 in La Crosse as well as various card clubs in the Trempealeau area. He was an avid card player and enjoyed traveling.

In addition to his wife Joan, he is survived by a sister; Mary Anne Dearman of La Crosse; two brothers, Joseph (Edie) Schmitz of Boise, ID and James (Annette) Schmitz of Plano, TX; three brothers-in-law, Ronald (Nancy) Abicht of Burnsville, MN, Robert Abicht of Oostburg, WI, and James Abicht of St. Paul, MN; a sister-in-law, Rita (Bill) Cockrell of Holmen; two aunts and a number of special nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his step-mother, Sigrund Schmitz, and a brother-in-law, Richard (Jule) Abicht.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church of La Crosse with Rev. Rick Roberts officiating. Entombment will follow in Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church on Tuesday from 9:30 A.M. until the time of Mass. Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse is assisting the family. Memorials are suggested to St. Judes Childrens Hospital or the Trempealeau County Humane Society.