Marcella Schmitt

Marcella F. Schmitt age 97 of Lawler, Iowa died Friday, August 22, 2014, at the New Hampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday August 29, 2014, at Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler with Rev. Nick March celebrating the Mass. The pall will be placed by her four children. Lector for the service will be Tom Schmitt. Presenting the offertory gifts will be Marcella’s great-grandchildren. Interment will be in the church cemetery with Tom Schmitt, Mark Schmitt, Jeff Schmitt, Mike Schmitt, William Paul, James Paul, Angie Halbur and Heather Witham serving as pallbearers. Friends may greet the family 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, August 28, 2014, at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler where there will be a 4:00 p.m. Catholic Daughters of the Americas Rosary and a 6:00 p.m. Scripture Service. Further visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home, Lawler is in charge of arrangements. (563) 238-2764 Marcella Frances Schmitt was born April 20, 1917, in St. Lucas, IA, the daughter of Louis and Theresa (Bruess) Mihm. She received her education at St. Luke’s School in St. Lucas. On November 9, 1937, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, she married James Conrad Schmitt. To this union six children were born. The couple farmed in the Waucoma area for 40 years where Marcella enjoyed raising her family and was a hardworking homemaker. In addition she was a cook for the Presentation Sisters and housekeeper for the Lawler priest for many years. She also did housekeeping and babysitting for other Lawler families. Her beloved husband James, died in 1979 and Marcella remained on the farm until 2006 when she moved into the town of Lawler. She loved being in town and liked playing cards with her friends, family and local priests. Marcella was an avid gardener and especially loved her flowers. She loved family get togethers and preparing food for them. Cooking and baking were a labor of love for Marcella and her many deserts and pies were considered treasures by her family. In 2012, she became a resident of the New Hampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Marcella was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church and Rosary Society and she was over a 69 year member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas where she had been a former Grand Regent during the years 1987 through 1989. Survivors include two sons, Gene Schmitt of Waucoma and Dave Schmitt of Prairie Du Chien,WI; two daughters, Mary (Joe) Speltz and Pat (Vern) Halbur all of Lawler; eight grandchildren, Tom Schmitt, Mark Schmitt, Jeff Schmitt, Mike Schmitt, William Paul, James Paul, Angie Halbur, Heather Witham; twelve great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; sister-in-law, Freida Mihm of West Union. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a daughter, Kathleen Schmitt one son, Kenneth Schmitt; a grandson, Eric Schmitt; a daughter-in-law, Susan Schmitt; two sisters, Dorothy Kuennen and Margaret Smith; two brothers, Linus Mihm and Cletus Mihm.