Bio: Schmitz, Thelma - Holiday Recollections (1981)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson
Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Schmitz

---Source: Marshfield News-Herald (18 December 1981)

We were always a very Christmas oriented family - attending children's church programs, baking Christmas cookies and candy, filling out home with aromas of the smells of spice and pine from the freshly cut Christmas tree. We were a family of seven, four boys and one girl.

Every year around December 1, we would receive a special-delivery letter from Santa at the North Pole, telling us that his chain of helpers must get busy, that my husband and sons had a job to do. We would get the suits out of storage so they could be on their way to deliver the gifts that Mr. and Mrs. Santa had so carefully selected for many children. Yes, boys and girls, Santa has to have many helpers, so he can get all his things delivered my Christmas Eve. It is a great honor to be selected as one of Santa's helpers.

Everyone was hustling around, putting on the long johns and the great red and white suits, so they could be on their merry way. Our daughter, Darla, would stay home by the fire and wrap all the many packages for Santa's helpers. so they could deliver them. This joyous occasion went on for many years.

Then one bright sunny morning, on April 26, 1972, our chain of Santa's helper was broken. Our oldest son (Daniel) was killed on his way to work. That Christmas, Santa's special delivery letters were disregarded and the suits stayed stored in moth balls. and other helpers were selected to deliver all the many gifts. Then our faith in God kept us active in Christmas with our family. Then a few years later, another special delivery letter came from the North Pole, saying Santa really need your help. By then, our family members had ventured out on their own to make their own futures. But one day we had a family meeting. With tear-stained cheeks and many beautiful memories, out came the Santa's helper suits, the sewing machine started humming again and with all that red and white cloth out came a Mrs. Santa suit! Santa Lamar needed help as the young men in our family now were selected to be Santa's helpers in their own hometowns.

Our Christmas table will always have one empty place, but we know our one Santa's helper will always be with us in spirit and telling us to keep our faith in God and to bring joy to many children and to watch the faces of the elderly light up.You may see a truckle of a tear running down their cheeks, but it is a tear of joy, and many memories.

It makes your heart feel great to be able to bring so much joy and happiness to so many young and old. So I guess you would say we got our message from Santa in Heaven. Yes, boy and girls, there is a Santa Claus.

Mrs. Lamar Schmitz is a resident of Neillsville, Where she is employed at the Memorial Nursing Home. In addition to their children, they have two grandchildren, Ricky and Tina of Madison. She also enjoys helping her husband in the restaurant business, baking and making Christmas crafts. And, as her essay points out, she welcomes the chance to be one of Santa's helpers.