Valeria Schmitz

Valeria "Val" Schmitz, age 81, of Wheaton, Minnesota passed away Saturday, September 24, 2016 at the Traverse Care Center in Wheaton.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton with Rev. Michael Breach officiating. Organist will be Sara Lee Rinke.

Interment will be in St. John Lutheran Cemetery, rural Wheaton.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, September 27th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Bainbridge Funeral Home in Wheaton. Visitation will continue Wednesday morning one hour prior to service time at the church.

Valeria Luella Bartz was born January 16, 1935 in Graceville, Minnesota to Bernard and Lena (Schmidt) Bartz. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton. She was a graduate of Wheaton High School, and after graduation she left for California where she worked for Hughs Aircraft. After returning to the Wheaton area, she worked for EH Vye Lumber Co., for Dr. Magnuson as a receptionist, and at Schmidt Implement.

She married Jim Schmitz in 1961 while Jim was in the Navy. They celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary this last January. They returned to Wheaton after Jim's discharge to make their home and raise their children. She helped Jim at the Wheaton Locker Plant that he owned. She had also set up an antique shop next to the locker plant building. Val loved to go to antique sales and buy items for the store. She and Jim also enjoyed setting up a booth at area flea markets on summer weekends.

Val loved her beautiful flower gardens and loved to keep her yard and home neat and decorated. To Val her home and gardens always had to be a showplace! She also loved country music as she and Jim would follow many shows when they were within driving distance. Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley spiritual hymns were her favorites. Val loved to travel to different countries as well. She made several trips to Australia to visit her daughter Calla.

Val was injured in a car accident along with her husband in 2012. Her injuries limited her usually active lifestyle. She spent her remaining years at Prairie View Place, then later at Traverse Care Center. Val was a fighter all of her life; she had battled cancer, major heart surgery and Parkinson's Disease. She was also an advocate for her children and grandchildren to getting a good education.

Valeria is survived by her husband Jim; daughter Calla (Kevin) Alexander; son Dr. Troy (Beth) Schmitz; grandchildren Carl and Casey Alexander, and Ryan and Anna Schmitz; sisters-in-law Vivian Staupe, Laura Mallery, Veronica (Earl) Triplett, Betty Charlton, Gloria Schmitz, Delores Thompson; brother-in-law David (Carole) Schmitz; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Bernard and Lena Bartz; her sisters Mildred Bartz and Silence Otis.