Deacon John Schmitt, Jr.

Facebooktwittermail

Deacon John Schmitt, Jr., 81, of Low Moor, died Jan. 22 at Mercy Medical Center – North Campus in Clinton.
Schmitt was born June 13, 1932, in Rock Island, Ill., the son of John and Stella (Schulz) Schmitt. He attended Rock Island schools, before graduating in 1950 from Calamus High School in Calamus. Following high school he enlisted in the U.S. Army from 1952-54 serving in the Korean Conflict. He later served 26 years in the Iowa National Guard.
He married Margaret Chapman on April 30, 1960; she died Jan. 2, 1969. He married Suzanne Dollieslager on July 14, 1973, at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Camanche. They received a Catholic validation of their marriage Sept. 29, 1979, at Church of the Visitation in Camanche.
Deacon Schmitt was employed as a parts manager for Lee Dahl Motors and Southgate Motors until working as equipment operator for the Iowa Department of Transportation from 1977 until his retirement in 1994.
On June 4, 1988, he was ordained a permanent deacon at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport. He served as deacon at Church of the Visitation from 1988 until retiring in 2007. His diaconal service included prison ministry, nursing home prayer services, eucharistic minister at Mercy Medical Center and visiting the homebound with the Eucharist.
In addition to being a deacon, Deacon Schmitt was a volunteer with Mercy Auxiliary, delivered Meals on Wheels, served on the Low Moor City Council from 2012-13 and participated in the Honor Flight in 2013.
His funeral was Jan. 27 at Church of the Visitation.
Survivors include his wife, Sue, of Low Moor; four daughters: Lori Schmitt of Clinton, Carmen Graham of Clinton, Katie Graham of Camanche, and Mary (Jason) Steen of Camanche; three sons: Jay (Marcia) Schmitt of Clinton, Thomas Graham of Widefield, Colo., and Michael Schmitt of Low Moor; 17 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.


Support The Catholic Messenger’s mission to inform, educate and inspire the faithful of the Diocese of Davenport – and beyond! Subscribe to the print and/or e-edition, or make a one-time donation, today!

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Facebooktwittermail
Posted on