Alice Schmitz

Alice Schmitz, age 101, of Wheaton, Minnesota passed away Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at the Traverse Care Center in Wheaton.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, October 6, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton with Rev. Michael Breach officiating. Organist will be Sara Lee Rinke with special music by Lynae Berger and Lonnie Schmidt.

Interment will be in Wildwood Cemetery, Wheaton. Pallbearers will be Frank Grocutt, Ian Grocutt, Charles Schmitz, Mike Schmitz, Travor Timm, Trent Timm and Troy Timm. Honorary Pallbearers will be Alice's nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors. Visitation will be held Saturday from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the church.

Alice Helen Rinke was born November 19th, 1916 in Lake Valley Township, Traverse County Minnesota, to William and Anne (Mulvanny) Rinke. She was baptized and confirmed by Rev. Heine at St. John Lutheran Church, Wheaton, MN. Alice attended country school at District 55, in Lake Valley Township until 1931. She completed her schooling graduating from Wheaton High School in 1935. Alice played Basketball in High School. She continued her education at Moorhead State Teacher College with an Elementary School Standard Certificate and then taught at the following Rural Traverse County School Districts 8, 6. 24, and 25 for ten years. Alice then took a postal clerk test and worked at the post office as a clerk and also worked at Wheaton Oil Company.

On October 20th, 1944, she was united in marriage to Norman Schmitz. They moved to a farm in Walls Township. They adopted a son, John Paul in 1949 and a daughter Rosemary Kathryn in 1953.

In 1966 they moved their family to Rockford, MN. Alice taught at the Rockford Elementary School, while continuing her education at the University of Minnesota. In 1970 she graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree. After teaching for 15 years at the Rockford School District, she retired, but found that boring. She accepted a job as the manager for the Maple Lake Nutrition Center. She continued to work there for two years until Norman was ready to retire. Shortly after his retirement, they moved back to Wheaton. She has been a resident at the Traverse Care Center since July, 2011.

Alice had many hobbies which kept her busy. She spent numerous hours doing counter-cross stitch, bead work, painting, working with her flowers and gardening. She enjoyed playing cards with her many friends.

She is survived by her daughter Rosemary Kathryn, three grandchildren Sean, Travis, and Christina Schmitz, great-grandchildren Kaitlin, Ashley, Tyler, and Brandon, and many nieces and nephews.

Alice was preceded in death by her son John Paul, husband Norman, her parents William and Anne Rinke, her brothers Carl and Herbert (Myrtle) Rinke, her sisters Anne (Henry) Osterman and Madeline (Karl) Timm.