Norbert Bernard Schmitz
Norbert Bernard Schmitz, 93, of Maryville, Missouri formerly of Parnell, passed away on Thursday, November 30, 2023 at Parkdale Manor.
Norbert was born on May 2, 1930 the son of Charles Bernadine and Anna Marie Auffert Schmitz at their home west of Parnell.
His education began at Elm Grove, a country school, until the fall of 1940 when his family moved to Parnell where he attended school. During High School he played sports, participated in plays and worked on the school’s newspaper and was a member of the graduating class of 1948.
That fall he enrolled as a freshman at the Northwest Missouri State Teachers College in Maryville and quickly found that he didn’t have the finances or desire to continue his education because he wanted to follow his dream of being a farmer.
On May 20, 1950 he married his high school sweetheart, Addie Joan Stutesman at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Parnell.
Immediately the newly-weds moved to the John Boedeker farm east of Parnell where they were in a partnership with John for three years until he sold the farm.
On March 2, 1953, he and Jo and their two daughters, Gerre and Nancy moved the Mary Sisson Breit Farm west of Parnell. This partnership lasted until 1963 when she sold the farm to them, then they made a down payment with a contract to make yearly payments until they had ownership of the farm. As the owner of the farm, Norbert tore down an old hen house and used its lumber and sheets of galvanized tin to build several two-pen sow sheds. He began to raise more hogs and to enlarge his cattle herd so the Schmitz finances improved. In the mean time the old house had a new foundation and was enlarged with the addition of a boys bedroom and living room. Also it was modernized with running water for a bathroom, forced air furnace and a kitchen with a sink and built in cabinets.
As a father he bottle fed his babies, removed splinters and enjoyed dog piles with his children on the living room floor. He taught them to make rabbit ears to tie their shoes, how to swim, to drive both tractors and cars. When his children were old enough he took them on day trips to points of interest where he could drive, have a picnic lunch and be home to do his chores. Then in 1967 he began to rent a pop-up trailer in the summer to take them on vacation to Colorado, South Dakota and the Missouri and Iowa State Fairs.
He was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, served on its parish council, leader of its youth CYO and taught religion classes. He taught 4-H Club mechanics, served on the Independence Township Board for twenty-five years, was a Boy Scout leader and a member of the Mic-O-Say, coached the boys pony league and girls summer softball teams, served on the Extension Council, taught CPR classes, served in the Parnell Housing Board, earned a 100 pint blood donor award, was president of the Parnell High School reunion numerous times, ran the officials clock at the basketball games for forty years, was a board member of the United Electric Corporation for nineteen years and a member of the Levi & Lace Square Dance Club.
In his spare time he volunteered to umpire baseball and softball games. He helped clean up cemeteries and lend a helping hand to his neighbors.
When he and Jo were empty nesters, they liked to travel so they went to California with Gene and Judy Renshaw, took two guided tours to visit the historical site in the eastern states, returned to Colorado to visit relatives went to Germany and surrounding countries with the Schieber family and to Nova Scotia with their son, Mike and his wife Paulette. Their last traveling was to Annapolis with their daughter Julie and her husband Richard who had two sons that were students at the Naval Academy. They attended both of their graduations and also attended events during their time at the academy.
Norbert is survived by his wife of 73 years, Joan “Jo” Schmitz, Maryville, Missouri; daughters, Gerre (Cliff) Nelles, Excelsior Springs, Missouri, Nancy (Steve) Archer, Conception Jct., Missouri, Julie (Richard) Hunter, Harrisonville, Missouri; sons, Michael (Paulette) Schmitz, Sparta, Illinois, Patrick (Mary Frances) Schmitz and Kelly (Martha) Schmitz of Maryville, Missouri; sister, Irene (Kelly) Tobin, Ames, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Lovella Schmitz, Kirksville, Missouri and Donna Auffert, Parnell, Missouri; grandchildren, Jodie (Jeremy) Smith, Kerre (Stephan) Fiebich, Stacey (John) Pfannenstiel, Brian (Nicole) Archer, Kellen Archer, Katharine Archer, Brad Archer, Ryan (Christen) Schmitz, Josh Schmitz, David Schmitz, Colin Schmitz, Holly (Matt) Conley, Jessica Hunter, Nate (Anastasia) Hunter, Jake (Elizabeth) Hunter, Ben (Erin) Hunter, Joe Hunter, Melissa Schmitz, Heather Wright, Andrew Schmitz; twenty-seven great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernadine and Anna Schmitz, siblings, Orley (Lavena) Schmitz, Oscar (Mary) Schmitz, Marguerite (Bob) DeFreece, Marcella (Bob) Pope, Paulie Schmitz, great-grandson, Ethan Hunter and in-laws, Erma (Francis) Berg and Charles Auffert.
Mass of Christian Burial 10:30am Saturday, December 9th at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Burial St. Joseph Cemetery in Parnell. Rosary 6pm Friday, December 8th at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The family will receive friends following the rosary until 8pm. The family suggests memorials to the St. Joseph Cemetery Association or Rose Hill Cemetery Association.
