Rev. HENRY JOHN SCHMITT
Ordination - Two Rivers Reporter, May 7, 1930
Local Young Men Are Ordained At Green Bay Today.
Culminating a friendship of more than twenty years duration which began in early school life and continued throughout academic and college days, Rev. Henry Schmitt and Rev. George Beth, two well-known young men were ordained to the priesthood this morning at the St. Francis Cathedral at Green Bay, with the impressive services being conducted by the Rt. Rev. Paul P. Rhode, bishop of the Green Bay Diocese.

First Masses at St. Luke's

Next Sunday at 10:30 o'clock at the St. Luke's church, Rev. Beth will celebrate his first solemn mass while the following Sunday at the same time, Rev. Schmitt will officiate. Big celebrations following the two masses are to be held in the Marquette Hall including a dinner for relatives and friends at 12:30 o'clock and a reception at three.

Large Delegation Attend

Relatives and friends from this city to were there to attend the ordination ceremonies.

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Rev. Schmitt Dies, Served Chilton Parish
CHILTON - After undergoing major surgery at Milwaukee Lutheran Hospital, the Rev. Henry J. Schmitt, 61, pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church here since 1960 and a member of a widely known Two Rivers family, died late Saturday morning. In the priesthood for nearly 38 years, he had been in failing health for several years. One of 17 children of the late Henry and Anna Geimer Schmitt and an elder brother of Fathers John and Leo Schmitt, also of the diocese of Green Bay, he was born May 7, 1906, at Two Rivers. Receiving his parochial elementary education at St. Luke's Catholic School at Two Rivers and a classmate through ordination of the Rev. George Beth, now pastor of Most Precious Blood Church at New London, Father Schmitt entered St. Norbert Academy at De Pere in September of 1919. Graduating from the Academy, he enrolled at St. Norbert College, receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1926. He had been chief radio announcer for two years at the college station, WHBY.

Ordained At Green Bay

Studying theology at St. Francis Seminary at St. Francis for four years, Father Schmitt was ordained at the Cathedral at Green Bay May 7, 1930, by the late Bishop Paul P. Rhode. His first assistantship was a temporary appointment at St. Mary church here May 24, 1930, and in September of 1930 he became assistant at St. Patrick, Green Bay. In November of 1930 he was assigned as assistant at Our Lady of the Lourdes, Marinette, after which he was sent to Most Precious Blood Church at New London in June of 1932. His first pastorate was at Birnamwood with missions at Eland and at Wittenberg, beginning in August of 1934. He then became pastor in July of 1940 at Gresham, with a mission at Leopolis. After 13 years, in January of 1953, he became pastor of Sacred Heart Church at Sherwood. In March of 1960 he was assigned as pastor at St. Mary parish here and the mission church, St. Elizabeth, at Kloten. Through the years in the priesthood, Father Schmitt was in demand throughout the state as a public speaker as well as appearing at numerous Memorial Day programs. Among his nine surviving brothers, besides two in the clergy, are four in the well-known past international champion Schmitt Brothers Barbershop Quartet. Surviving are six sisters, nine brothers. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Bernard and Al J. Schmitt.

Services Wednesday

Bishop John J. Grellinger, administrator of Green Bay diocese, will be the main celebrant in the concelebrated Mass at St. Mary Church at 11 a.m. Wednesday. The sermon will be offered by the Very Rev. Msgr. Frank Schneider, pastor of St. Robert Church, Sherwood, longtime friend of Father Schmitt. Graveside services will be in mid-afternoon Wednesday at the family plot at Calvary Cemetery, Two Rivers, the Rev. Earl Brouchoud, pastor of St. Luke Church, Father Schmitt's home church, officiating. Priests in Two Rivers Catholic churches will serve as pallbearers.

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[Henry James]
(Rev. Henry John Schmitt/b.07 May 1906/d.02 Mar 1968)
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City cemetery records contain the following:
Name: Schmitt, Henry James
Age: 61
Burial Date: 3-6-1968
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