FOLLOWING IS A COURTESY LISTING FOR THE SCHMITZ FAMILY......
A Memorial Mass for Larry J. Schmitz, age 77, of O’Neill, Nebraska will be 7:00 PM Monday, August 3, 2020 at Biglin’s Mortuary in O’Neill.
Visitation will be on Monday from 5:00 PM until time of the service. Father Randy Goeke will officiate.
Larry passed away on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk, Nebraska. Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation.
Biglin’s Mortuary of O’Neill is in charge of arrangements.
Larry Joe Schmitz was born on May 9, 1943 in Spencer, Nebraska to Joseph and Theresa (Honke) Schmitz. He attended grade school in Butte at the Butte Catholic Schools through the 8th grade and graduated High School from Bonesteel SD in 1961. He took a break from school for a couple years and worked for the USGS traveling to the southern states where he and a water moccasin crossed paths and Larry was bitten. Following his recovery, he returned to South Dakota and attended the University of South Dakota college in Springfield SD.
Larry went to work for the South Dakota Dept. of Roads. During this time, he married Becky Schmitz in March of 1965 and to this union, two sons were born; Brett was born in 1966 and Troy in 1970. He also received the blessing of adoption when Patty joined their family. During this time Larry began his sales career which would span the next 52 years until his passing. This career lead him into managing positions with MoorMan’s Feed and Grain Elevators in Spencer and Bassett. Larry then took his sales experience to owning his own business’s operating ITD Dispatch for several years. During this time Larry met Cynthia (Cindy) Walton and her 3yr old son, Justin in the summer of 1983. They were joined in marriage in November of 1992 and to this union his son Travis was born in 1993. He also opened his life and heart to many foster kids. Larry and Cindy were foster parents for 22 years. His first love was always his family and he was proud of all his children and all their accomplishments.
Larry was the Groundskeeper at the Bassett Country Club for a few years, a job he took immense pride in and of course his love for the game was a bonus. He then returned to sales which was his true calling due to his ability to connect to people on so many levels. His belief in a product or service was all he needed the rest just came naturally.
Larry spent a lifetime with one of his other passions and gifts, his love for music started early in his school years. He participated in plays and music contests. His love for entertaining continued with performing just himself and his guitar to managing his own bands. Larry Ray and the Bandits and Larry Ray and the Silver Creek Band won several local and state competitions as well as many People’s Choice awards. Throughout the years his love for music brought joy and some great dancing opportunities to others around him. He also shared his music in church and thoroughly enjoyed any opportunity to participate in the service of our Lord, whether it was cooking sausages and flipping pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, reading the scripture lessons or being the Lay reader holding service in the absence of the priest.
Larry is survived by his wife of 37 years, Cindy Schmitz of O’Neill; sons, Brett (Mindy) Schmitz of McCook, NE, Troy (Monica) Schmitz of Red Cloud, NE, Travis Schmitz and Alex Breiner of Atkinson, NE, and Justin (Tina) Walton of Birmingham, IA; daughter, Patty C. Danielson of Fremont, NE; nine grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; one sister, Mary Ann (Dennis) Havranek of O’Neill, NE; mother-in-law, Alice Mitchell of Ainsworth, NE; sister-in-laws, Cheri Coutts of Ainsworth, NE and Chris Crawford and fiancé, Andrew Sukup, of Norfolk, NE; nieces, nephews, and all of Larry’s Foster children.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Don & JoAnn Schmitz.
Biglin's Mortuary
O'Neill, Nebraska
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