Thomas "Tom" Gregory Schmitz

Thomas “Tom” Gregory Schmitz, 60, of Orlando, FL formerly of La Crosse, WI passed away peacefully on Friday May 17, 2024 with family at his bedside. Tom was born June 1, 1963 in La Crosse, WI to Gregory and Barbara E. (Kostecki) Schmitz.

He began his education at Blessed Sacrament School, and graduated from Aquinas High School in 1981. He furthered his education at University of Wisconsin in La Crosse, graduating in 1985 with a Bachelors of Business Administration and then later he went to Western Technical College and received an Associates Degree in Applied Science in CIS Programmer/Analyst Program in 1989.

Throughout his life Tom worked in many capacities: LAN Administrator, Network Analyst, MIS Director, retired Spiritual Director and former Administrator at Mormon Coulee Memorial Park Cemetery.

In December 1984, he married Barbara A. (Andrews) Lenser. To this union 3 daughters were born, Nicole Tripp, Michelle Holland, and Danielle Feran. They were subsequently divorced. In January 1999, he married Svetlana Y. (Grigorievskaya) Schmitz and adopted her daughter, Anya.

Family time was very important to him. He enjoyed board games, puzzles, video games, sci-fi, especially Dr. Who and Star Trek. He enjoyed his worldwide travels to places such as Europe, Asia, South and Central America as well as in the good old USA. Faith was really important to him, starting as a young altar boy and continuing his spiritual journey throughout his adulthood.

Tom is survived by his wife Svetlana and daughter Anya Schmitz. His daughters from his first marriage Nicole (Chad) Tripp, Michelle (Brandon) Holland, and Danielle (Ed) Feran. He is further survived by his mother Barb Schmitz and sister Patty (Ryan) Hunstad and their children, Royce and Nicholas. He is survived by his 6 grandchildren; Parker and Mackenzie Tripp, Mya and Conner Peterson, Mason Feran, and Viktoria Gunderson. He is further survived by a large extended family including uncles, aunts, and many cousins. He is preceded in death by his father Gregory “Greg” Schmitz and sister, Susan Carol (Schmitz) Szemraj, grandparents, aunts, and uncles.

A visitation to honor Tom’s life will be held on Thursday, May 30, at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home in La Crosse, WI with rosary being prayed at 4:00pm, and visitation from 4:30pm-7:00pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated the following day, Friday, May 31, at 11:00am at Blessed Sacrament Church, with visitation beginning one hour prior at 10:00am. Father Billy Dodge will officiate. A private family burial will be at a later date at Mormon Coulee Memorial Park Cemetery in La Crosse.

Tom was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend. We will miss him dearly, but rejoice he is home safely in the arms of Jesus.