Robert J. Schmitt

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 15, 2023 at St. Mary’s Cathedral (Upper Church) in St. Cloud for Robert J. Schmitt, age 92, of Waite Park, who passed away on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, the Feast of St. Nicholas, at Assumption Community in Cold Spring. Reverend Scott Pogatchnik, Reverend Steven Binsfeld, and Reverend John Paul Igbokwe will concelebrate. Entombment, with full military honors, will be at the Assumption Cemetery Mausoleum in St. Cloud.

Solemn Wake will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 14, 2023 at the Daniel Funeral Home, St. Cloud. Recitation of the Most Holy Rosary will be held at 4:30 p.m., followed by parish prayers at 5:00 p.m. and the Knights of Columbus #961 prayers. The Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Father Pierz Assembly #530 will stand honor guard. To close the evening of remembrance, the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Lay Carmelites will lead the Liturgy of the Hours Office for the Dead at 7:45 p.m. Viewing will also be one hour prior to the Mass on Friday at St. Mary’s Cathedral (Upper Church).

Robert was born on April 19, 1931 to Leo and Margaret (Doubek) Schmitt in Luxemburg, MN. One of 14 children. He grew up on the family farms in Luxemburg and St. Joseph. As a young lad he climbed the bell tower to ring them for Mass, he served at the altar and during his high school years helped the sisters of St. Benedict with bee keeping and mowing lawns. He worked with his father at the Lumber Company as a tile layer and acquired carpentry skills that he used to finish building his family homes. After high school he enlisted in the United States Navy and served honorably in the Korean War. While serving his country he joined the Knights of Columbus, the largest global charity organization in the world! They promote charity, fraternity, unity and brotherhood-with an emphasis on how to be the best Dad you can be to your family as a faithful Catholic man. He was promoted to high positions of expertise as a Knight from member, to 3rd degree, to 4th degree to District Deputy Officer; serving with heroic humble spirit-often found helping prolife efforts, children, the handicapped, and the elderly.

Following the service, he pursued seminary studies with the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Belleville, IL. Gifted with a love for languages he learned 4 years of Latin and Greek in only 2 years. He was of high intellect. Discernment led to him to return home to enter Saint John’s University to earn a degree in History, Social Studies and French with a teaching certificate from St. Cloud State College. He furthered his French academia at Laval University in Quebec, Canada. Always one to work during summer school breaks, he took a job recommended by his friend Jack Parr, as a lab technician at the hospital where he would meet a beautiful/ wonderful nurse, Mary A. Freese, who would become the love of his life! The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony was held on Christmas break, on a snowy day, December 29, 1962 at Assumption Catholic Church in Morris, MN, close to the family farm where Mary grew up. They moved to Coleraine, MN on the Iron Range where he taught at Greenway High School; teaching History, Social Studies and French for over a quarter of a century. He was well liked and respected by both colleagues and students. He was a beloved teacher and fondly referred to as “Monsieur Schmitt” by his students. They sought out his advice in life matters. Occasionally he would sing to them in class lively French songs and this made for a happy time. You had to work hard to get a good grade and that involved lots of writing of notes from the blackboard. He stayed up typing and correcting tests till the late hours of evening. He led the French Club on summer trips to Winnipeg, Canada and managed the yearbook and concessions at sporting events often capturing many of the photographs used in the yearbook. He was a prolific reader and an avid gardener; with a passion for harvesting and processing the produce to share with the poor, his family, friends and neighbors. He loved the outdoors. We remember trips flying down the country roads looking for chokecherries and he skillfully could see them at 55mph and abruptly stopped, – got out of the truck said “get ready to pick an ice cream pail full!” We went on recon missions for wild blueberries in the fields near the forests. We would turn them into jams. He also had numerous fruit bearing shrubs and trees in the yard with which we made jellies too! He enjoyed fishing and deer hunting on the Iron Range. Upon retirement they moved back to the St. Joseph area to be closer to his brothers and sisters. He and Mary were founding members of the Lay Carmelite Community in St. Cloud, He was a Cursillio member, and an Auxiliary member of the Legion of Mary. He loved to be with his family in prayer and especially enjoyed the Mother of Perpetual Help devotions led in later years by Deacon Leo. He was an officer of the Franch Canadian Club in town. He was an Acolyte, Lector and funeral choir member at St. Mary’s Cathedral parish. He was an accomplished Rosary maker; with hundreds of rosaries completed for the foreign missions and for prisoners. He loved the Sacrament of Eucharist, Eucharistic adoration and family rosary times. He had a kind, gentle generous spirit ready to share in good humor and conversation.

He is survived by his wife, Mary A. Schmitt (Freese); daughter, Patricia Ann Schmitt; son, Paul Schmitt and daughter, Rachelle Schmitt; his brothers, Dennis (Alice) Schmitt; his sisters, Irene Rennie, Emma Dullinger, Carol Rodekuhr and brothers-in-law, Richard (Dick) Brinker, Dennis Heimerl and sister-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews very dear to him.

He is preceded in death by his brothers, Alvin (killed in action in WWII, Richard (Marie) Schmitt, Henry “Hank” (Ceil) Schmitt, Elmer “Bud” (Arlene) Schmitt and sisters, Ester (Benjamin) Kotschevar, Martha (Bob) Lodermeier, Mary (Dick) Brinker, Margaret “Margie” (Dennis) Heimerl and 2 siblings who died at childbirth.

We appreciate all kindness shown to him by family, friends, his loving nieces and nephews and his parish Priests.
Those closest to him knew him to be of quiet genuine spirit and total love for Jesus Christ, Our Lady, St. Joseph and the Holy Family to whom we entrust his soul!

Love you Bob, Papa, Monsieur, brother Bob.

Keep doing good deeds from Heaven!

You are a beautiful, endearing eternal soul!