Obit: Schmitz, Lila D. (1934 - 2014)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Schmitz, Sternitzky, Handke, Galloway

----Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Abbotsford, Wis.) 16 Apr 2014

Schmitz, Lila D. (11 APR 1934 - 11 APR 2014)

Lila D. Schmitz, 80, Granton, died on Friday, April 11, 2014, at Memorial Medical Center in Neillsville following a courageous 25-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., on Monday, April 14, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Granton. Rev. Daniel Schoessow officiated. Interment was in the Town of Lynn Cemetery. Casket bearers were her grandsons, Matt Schmitz, Logan Schmitz, Nick Schmitz, Carter Schmitz, Jason Kurth and Kolin Schmitz.

Lila Dawn Sternitzky was born on April 11, 1934, in the town of Lynn, the daughter of Clarence and Selma (nee Handke) Sternitzky. She grew up in Lynn and attended Maple Grove Grade School. She graduated from eighth grade at the Lutheran Church School and then attended and graduated from Granton High School. Lila then went on to college and earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. In 1955, she began her teaching career at the Sun Bean Grade School in the town of Lynn, a 1-room country school house where she taught all eight grades. On May 26, 1956, she married Jerry Schmitz in Granton. They farmed in the town of Lynn while Lila continued teaching. From Sun Bean she then taught at the Mayflower Grade School and eventually went to the Granton Public Schools, where she began teaching at the high school, retiring in 1992 teaching at the fourth-grade level. They farmed until 1996, then enjoying travel to friends' and family homes. In 2012, they moved to Sunset Gardens in Neillsville. She was a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Granton, where she was a member of the choir, taught Sunday school, attended Ladies Bible Study, and taught Wednesday night Confirmation class. Lila loved to travel, go dancing and listen to polka music. She was an excellent cook and she loved to bake cookies for her grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Jerry; four sons, Tim (Jane) Schmitz, Granton, Terry (Sandy) Schmitz, Granton, David (Karen) Schmitz, Germantown, and Kevin (Shelly) Schmitz, Neillsville; 13 grandchildren, Molly, Ali, Matt, Tara, Kortney, Logan, Nick, Kelsey, Carter, Kenzie, Jason, Kolin, and Karcyn; one sister, Velda Galloway, Taylor, S.C.; two brothers, Stanley (Karlene) Sternitzky, Rice Lake, and Marvin (Roberta) Sternitzky, Blair; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorials may be designated to the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Lila’s name.

Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.

The Gesche Funeral Home, Neillsville, assisted the family with arrangements.