Kenneth F. Schmitz

Monday, January 27, 2020 5:58 pm

Kenneth F. Schmitz, 83, of Arkadelphia, Ark. and formerly of Ossian, died Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock, Ark. Mass of Christian Burial is at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Ossian, with Rev. Robert Gross officiating. Visitation is from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and for one hour before the service Thursday at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Ossian. K. C. Rosary is at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday by the Ossian Knights of Columbus Council No. 2073. Scripture service is at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Interment is at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Cemetery, Ossian. A Memorial Fund has been established. A Memorial service will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Arkadelphia, Ark. at a later date. Online obituary is at jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com.

Kenneth Frank Joseph Schmitz was born Saturday, Nov. 21, 1936, in Decorah, Winneshiek County, the son of Philip Allen and Florence Antionette (Miller) Schmitz. He graduated from St. Francis de Sales Catholic High School in the class of 1954. Ken was united in marriage to Helen Jane Donlon Jan. 12, 1957, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elkader. They made their home in Ossian where Ken had joined his father, Philip, in the family business at Schmitz Furniture, Floorcovering and Funeral Home in 1956. Ken moved his family to Waukon where he managed Schmitz Furniture Store from 1964 to 1967. The family moved to Clinton for seven years where Ken worked at various jobs. The family then moved back to Ossian. Ken and Jane along with Ken’s mother, Florence Schmitz, and their children, operated the family business in Ossian from 1973 until 1989.Ken and Jane then moved to Arkadelphia, Ark., where Ken worked for Hardman Lumber from July 1, 1989 until he retired Dec. 31, 2016.

Left to honor his memory are his wife of 63 years, Jane Schmitz, of Arkadelphia, Ark.; eight children: Maureen Nesvik of Arkadelphia, Ark., Michael Schmitz of Arkadelphia, Ark., Phil (Pam) Schmitz of Sioux Falls, S.D., Paul Schmitz of Oelwein, Kevin Schmitz of Davenport, Kent (Diane) Schmitz of St. Joseph, Minn., Lisa (Matt) Beecher of Davenport and Linda (Michael) Raines of Arkadelphia, Ark.; 12 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sister, Mary Lou Uhlenhake of Ossian; sister-in-law, Sharon Schmitz of Clinton; many nieces and nephews and cousins.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, several grandchildren, brother: Karl Schmitz, Sr., sister, Karen Hemesath and two brothers-in-law, Ivan Uhlenhake and Jack Hemesath.