Date of death: 1/26/2016
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1967
William ôBillö Frederick Schmitz, 74, of Akron Iowa, formerly of Elgin, Illinois, died on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at a Sioux City Hospital.A prayer service took place in Akron on January 20, 2016, with the bestowal of military honors for BillÆs service in the National Guard. Per his request, a Celebration of Life Service was held on June 4, 2016, at St. Hugh of Lincoln Episcopal Church, Elgin, IL, where he served as a lay reader and vestry member for many years. He was also involved with Cursillo and Happening ministries through the Diocese of Chicago.Bill was born on October 21, 1941, to Bernard and Teresa (Hermreck) Schmitz in Elgin, Illinois. From 1955-57, he studied at St. Meinrad Minor Seminary, St. Meinrad, Indiana, before transferring to St. Edward Central Catholic High School in Elgin. He served as president of his senior class of 1959. He studied at St. JosephÆs College in Rensselear, Indiana, before graduating from Ellis Business College, Elgin, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. BillÆs early years of employment included Woodruff & Edwards Inc., Illinois Tool Works and the Boynton Division of Hoffer Plastics in the Elgin area. He continued his career by excelling as a sales and marketing executive in the plastics machinery and components industry for various regional and national firms.Bill married Julie Lucken on April 27, 1968; they enjoyed living and raising their two children in Elgin. After retiring to Akron in 2004, he enjoyed having more time for reading about countless subjects of interest, and found much pleasure in maintaining a meticulous lawn.Until the very end, BillÆs life reflected his unwavering faith in God and his infinite strength and courage. He also continued to display his love, compassion, and concern for others, a keen sense of humor, and great fondness for conversation. He chose to donate his body to the University of South Dakota School of Medicine for medical research.Survivors include his wife Julie; his daughter Andrea and granddaughter Julianna Teresa Schmitz of Chandler, AZ; his sons Eric Schmitz and Spencer Bagley of Loveland, CO; his brother Peter (Paula) Schmitz; and his sisters Mary Busse, Peggy Lullie, and Joann (Don) Biewer; several sisters-and brothers-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother-in-law, Robert Bean, and two nephews, Adam Schmitz and Michael Bean.