David John Schmitz, age 96, of Rice Lake (formerly of Cameron), passed away on Tuesday, August 16, 2022.

He was born July 6, 1926, in Sparta, to Henry and Gertrude (Mielke) Schmitz.

He spent part of his younger life in St. Paul, MN, before moving to the Barron area in 1943.

He was a WWII Veteran serving in the Pacific Theater. He was employed at the Turtle Lake Creamery prior to his employment at Northern States Power in 1956, until his retirement in January, 1988 from Xcel Energy.

In May, 1947, he married Lorraine Bader at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Barron. They were blessed to have enjoyed 61 years of marriage before Lorraine’s death in 2009. They spent time together camping at the lake, playing cards, fishing, making improvements to the campsite and enjoying the grandkids. When David had spare time, he would create wooden crafts to donate to the church fundraisers. He loved playing his keyboard and his accordion, as well as his employment at the power company as a lineman and troubleman and working with the crew. He also took great pride in his yard and garden, always attacking the weeds. Cutting and splitting wood was another favorite and always made sure each row was neatly stacked before deer hunting season started.

He was a member of St. Joseph Church in Barron until relocating to Rice Lake, and becoming a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rice Lake.

Surviving are his daughter, Anita (Harold, Jr.) Nevin of Rice Lake; grandsons, Michael (Karen) Nevin of St. Michael, MN and Colin (Rosanna) Nevin of Elmwood; great-grandchildren, Trevor (Frances) Nevin, Trenton Nevin, Madelyn, Savannah and Grace Nevin; sisters, Theresa (Ronald) Seeger of Rochester, MN, Mary (Ralph) Kolstad of Comstock, Anna Mae Gamache of Rush City, MN and Patricia (Elmer) Sommerfield of Rochester, MN; and a brother, John Schmitz of Glenwood City.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Lorraine; grandson, Gregory Nevin; brother-in-law, Robert Gamache and sister-in-law, Marian Schmitz; and many loved members of the Bader family.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 111 W. Marshall Street in Rice Lake. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday morning. Lunch will be served immediately following the service in the church dining hall with burial at Wayside Cemetery in Barron at 2:00 p.m.

Arrangements are being handled by Rausch and Steel Funeral Home in Barron.

Last Update: Aug 17, 2022 5:43 pm CDT