Schmitz, Rosemary Kelroy

Rosemary Kelroy Schmitz, 84, a resident of Fond du Lac, passed away October 18, 2012 at the Woodlands Senior Park.

She was born November 10, 1927 in Byron, WI, a daughter of the late Edward and Ethel Kelley Kelroy.

On October 24, 1953 she married Donald S. Schmitz at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Fond du Lac.

Rosemary was a 1945 graduate of St. Mary’s Springs Academy. She was employed at the Fond du Lac Clinic as a technician from 1945 to 1953. Rosemary and Donald operated the third generation Schmitz Family Farm in the Town of Fond du Lac. She was a volunteer at Agnesian Home Oxygen for many years. Rosemary had an unwavering faith in God and was an active member of Holy Family Parish attending St. Mary’s Church where she was a member of the church’s Altar Society. She and Don were very active in many agricultural organizations throughout their lives. Rosemary treasured the time she spent with family, friends, and especially her grandchildren. After semi-retiring from the family farm, she and her husband Don, enjoyed traveling especially to Alaska, Glacier National Park and Hawaii. Her favorite trip was to Ireland to celebrate her Irish family heritage.

Survivors include her children, David (Mary) Schmitz of Fond du Lac, Denise (Joel) Schmitz-Enking of Hurley, Mark (Rose) Schmitz, and Steve (Sandy) Schmitz all of Fond du Lac, ten grandchildren, Anthony and Aaron Schmitz, Leah and Lauren Enking, Alannah and Lindsay Schmitz, Stacy, Megan, Katie, and Emily Schmitz. She is further survived by a sister, Margaret Schmitz, two brothers, Robert Kelroy, and Edward (Shirley) Kelroy all of Fond du Lac, four sisters-in-law, Darlene Kelroy, Mary (Robert) Baker, Catherine (Fritz) Reil, and Jean Schmitz, a brother-in-law, Ray (Jan) Schmitz, nieces, nephews other relatives and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years Donald, a brother John Kelroy, two sisters-in-law, Pearl Kelroy and Delores Kelroy, two brothers-in-law, Herb Schmitz and Leonard Schmitz.

Visitation: Visitation will be held on Tuesday October 23, 2012 from 4:00 to 7:30 PM at the Zacherl Funeral Home, 875 E. Division Street, Fond du Lac. Visitation will also be held at Holy Family Parish, 271 Fourth Street Way on Wednesday October 24, 2012 from 9:30 to 10:45 AM.

Services: A Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate her life will be held at Holy Family Parish Church, on Wednesday, 11:00 AM. Rev. Ryan Pruess will officiate. Entombment will follow in the Chapel of the Risen Christ Mausoleum, Calvary Cemetery.

Memorials in her name may be directed to the St. Mary’s Springs Academy Endowment Fund or the Agnesian Hospice Hope Program.

“Rosemary’s family is grateful to the Woodlands Senior Park Staff and the Agnesian Hospice Hope Program for the loving, compassionate care provided to her and her family. Her caregivers became family over the past year.”

Zacherl Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family.  www.zacherlfuneralhome.com