David Schmitz, 91, Minot, formerly of Kenmare, passed away on Wednesday, November 7, 2018, at a Minot assisted living facility.
David was born on August 2, 1927 to Herman and Gertrude (Keller) Schmitz on the family farm north of Foxholm. David attended country school and due to his four brothers away in the service, Dave dedicated himself to working on the family farm. In 1945, David joined the U.S. Army and he continued to serve our nation until he was honorably discharged in 1947.
After leaving the service, David returned to North Dakota. On October 22, 1949, David was united in marriage with Mildred (McNeal) Savelkoul in Kenmare at St. Agnes Catholic Church. They made their home in Kenmare, and from this union two more children were born: Geralyn “Geri” and Kelvin. In addition, David cared for Carol, Mary and Ed, Mildred’s children from her previous marriage, as if they were his own.
David worked as a mechanic for various companies in the Kenmare area. In 1960, David began leasing and operating the Westland Service Station in Kenmare. He later purchased the station in 1974, renaming it Dave’s Transmission Service. Throughout the course of over 45 years at their business, David and Mildred worked together, with Mildred as the company bookkeeper. The couple had a big heart, and on more than one occasion they took stranded motorists into their home where they provided a home-cooked meal and shelter while David repaired their vehicle. David and Mildred moved to Minot in 2015 for health reasons. During the transition from Kenmare to Minot, David made many friends with his fellow residents at Cook’s Court and he always treasured the weekly visits from Father Joseph Chipson. Mildred passed away in September 2018. The family would like to offer a special thanks to the staff of Minot Health and Rehab for their loving care and support during his final days.
David loved to be at work. He could fix anything that had a motor and was always tinkering with things to see how they worked and how he could improve them. After he retired, he was employed as a maintenance worker at the Kenmare Hospital. David also enjoyed bird hunting, especially pheasants. David was a member of the Kenmare Volunteer Fire Department, St. Agnes Catholic Church, Holy Name Society, Knights of Columbus and other civic organizations. He was also a former City Council member of Kenmare.
David is survived by his son, Kelvin (Shirley) Schmitz, Leander, TX; daughter, Geralyn “Geri” (Paul) Jacob; Minot; step-children: Carol (Richard) Grandbois, Rimrock, AZ, Mary Seime, Black Hawk, CO, and Ed (Sandra) Savelkoul, Sidney, MT; 13 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; sisters: Adeline Schweitzer and Carol Feuillerat; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Mildred; brothers: Alvin (Arlene), Leo (Evelyn), Bill (Betty), and Bernard (Virginia); brother-in-law Art Feuillerat; son-in-law, Bernell Seime; and great-grandson, Isiac Savelkoul.
Thompson-Larson Funeral Home
David was born on August 2, 1927 to Herman and Gertrude (Keller) Schmitz on the family farm north of Foxholm. David attended country school and due to his four brothers away in the service, Dave dedicated himself to working on the family farm. In 1945, David joined the U.S. Army and he continued to serve our nation until he was honorably discharged in 1947.
After leaving the service, David returned to North Dakota. On October 22, 1949, David was united in marriage with Mildred (McNeal) Savelkoul in Kenmare at St. Agnes Catholic Church. They made their home in Kenmare, and from this union two more children were born: Geralyn “Geri” and Kelvin. In addition, David cared for Carol, Mary and Ed, Mildred’s children from her previous marriage, as if they were his own.
David worked as a mechanic for various companies in the Kenmare area. In 1960, David began leasing and operating the Westland Service Station in Kenmare. He later purchased the station in 1974, renaming it Dave’s Transmission Service. Throughout the course of over 45 years at their business, David and Mildred worked together, with Mildred as the company bookkeeper. The couple had a big heart, and on more than one occasion they took stranded motorists into their home where they provided a home-cooked meal and shelter while David repaired their vehicle. David and Mildred moved to Minot in 2015 for health reasons. During the transition from Kenmare to Minot, David made many friends with his fellow residents at Cook’s Court and he always treasured the weekly visits from Father Joseph Chipson. Mildred passed away in September 2018. The family would like to offer a special thanks to the staff of Minot Health and Rehab for their loving care and support during his final days.
David loved to be at work. He could fix anything that had a motor and was always tinkering with things to see how they worked and how he could improve them. After he retired, he was employed as a maintenance worker at the Kenmare Hospital. David also enjoyed bird hunting, especially pheasants. David was a member of the Kenmare Volunteer Fire Department, St. Agnes Catholic Church, Holy Name Society, Knights of Columbus and other civic organizations. He was also a former City Council member of Kenmare.
David is survived by his son, Kelvin (Shirley) Schmitz, Leander, TX; daughter, Geralyn “Geri” (Paul) Jacob; Minot; step-children: Carol (Richard) Grandbois, Rimrock, AZ, Mary Seime, Black Hawk, CO, and Ed (Sandra) Savelkoul, Sidney, MT; 13 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; sisters: Adeline Schweitzer and Carol Feuillerat; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Mildred; brothers: Alvin (Arlene), Leo (Evelyn), Bill (Betty), and Bernard (Virginia); brother-in-law Art Feuillerat; son-in-law, Bernell Seime; and great-grandson, Isiac Savelkoul.
Thompson-Larson Funeral Home
David Schmitz, 91, Minot, formerly of Kenmare, passed away on Wednesday, November 7, 2018, at a Minot assisted living facility.
David was born on August 2, 1927 to Herman and Gertrude (Keller) Schmitz on the family farm north of Foxholm. David attended country school and due to his four brothers away in the service, Dave dedicated himself to working on the family farm. In 1945, David joined the U.S. Army and he continued to serve our nation until he was honorably discharged in 1947.
After leaving the service, David returned to North Dakota. On October 22, 1949, David was united in marriage with Mildred (McNeal) Savelkoul in Kenmare at St. Agnes Catholic Church. They made their home in Kenmare, and from this union two more children were born: Geralyn “Geri” and Kelvin. In addition, David cared for Carol, Mary and Ed, Mildred’s children from her previous marriage, as if they were his own.
David worked as a mechanic for various companies in the Kenmare area. In 1960, David began leasing and operating the Westland Service Station in Kenmare. He later purchased the station in 1974, renaming it Dave’s Transmission Service. Throughout the course of over 45 years at their business, David and Mildred worked together, with Mildred as the company bookkeeper. The couple had a big heart, and on more than one occasion they took stranded motorists into their home where they provided a home-cooked meal and shelter while David repaired their vehicle. David and Mildred moved to Minot in 2015 for health reasons. During the transition from Kenmare to Minot, David made many friends with his fellow residents at Cook’s Court and he always treasured the weekly visits from Father Joseph Chipson. Mildred passed away in September 2018. The family would like to offer a special thanks to the staff of Minot Health and Rehab for their loving care and support during his final days.
David loved to be at work. He could fix anything that had a motor and was always tinkering with things to see how they worked and how he could improve them. After he retired, he was employed as a maintenance worker at the Kenmare Hospital. David also enjoyed bird hunting, especially pheasants. David was a member of the Kenmare Volunteer Fire Department, St. Agnes Catholic Church, Holy Name Society, Knights of Columbus and other civic organizations. He was also a former City Council member of Kenmare.
David is survived by his son, Kelvin (Shirley) Schmitz, Leander, TX; daughter, Geralyn “Geri” (Paul) Jacob; Minot; step-children: Carol (Richard) Grandbois, Rimrock, AZ, Mary Seime, Black Hawk, CO, and Ed (Sandra) Savelkoul, Sidney, MT; 13 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; sisters: Adeline Schweitzer and Carol Feuillerat; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Mildred; brothers: Alvin (Arlene), Leo (Evelyn), Bill (Betty), and Bernard (Virginia); brother-in-law Art Feuillerat; son-in-law, Bernell Seime; and great-grandson, Isiac Savelkoul.
Thompson-Larson Funeral Home
David was born on August 2, 1927 to Herman and Gertrude (Keller) Schmitz on the family farm north of Foxholm. David attended country school and due to his four brothers away in the service, Dave dedicated himself to working on the family farm. In 1945, David joined the U.S. Army and he continued to serve our nation until he was honorably discharged in 1947.
After leaving the service, David returned to North Dakota. On October 22, 1949, David was united in marriage with Mildred (McNeal) Savelkoul in Kenmare at St. Agnes Catholic Church. They made their home in Kenmare, and from this union two more children were born: Geralyn “Geri” and Kelvin. In addition, David cared for Carol, Mary and Ed, Mildred’s children from her previous marriage, as if they were his own.
David worked as a mechanic for various companies in the Kenmare area. In 1960, David began leasing and operating the Westland Service Station in Kenmare. He later purchased the station in 1974, renaming it Dave’s Transmission Service. Throughout the course of over 45 years at their business, David and Mildred worked together, with Mildred as the company bookkeeper. The couple had a big heart, and on more than one occasion they took stranded motorists into their home where they provided a home-cooked meal and shelter while David repaired their vehicle. David and Mildred moved to Minot in 2015 for health reasons. During the transition from Kenmare to Minot, David made many friends with his fellow residents at Cook’s Court and he always treasured the weekly visits from Father Joseph Chipson. Mildred passed away in September 2018. The family would like to offer a special thanks to the staff of Minot Health and Rehab for their loving care and support during his final days.
David loved to be at work. He could fix anything that had a motor and was always tinkering with things to see how they worked and how he could improve them. After he retired, he was employed as a maintenance worker at the Kenmare Hospital. David also enjoyed bird hunting, especially pheasants. David was a member of the Kenmare Volunteer Fire Department, St. Agnes Catholic Church, Holy Name Society, Knights of Columbus and other civic organizations. He was also a former City Council member of Kenmare.
David is survived by his son, Kelvin (Shirley) Schmitz, Leander, TX; daughter, Geralyn “Geri” (Paul) Jacob; Minot; step-children: Carol (Richard) Grandbois, Rimrock, AZ, Mary Seime, Black Hawk, CO, and Ed (Sandra) Savelkoul, Sidney, MT; 13 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; sisters: Adeline Schweitzer and Carol Feuillerat; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Mildred; brothers: Alvin (Arlene), Leo (Evelyn), Bill (Betty), and Bernard (Virginia); brother-in-law Art Feuillerat; son-in-law, Bernell Seime; and great-grandson, Isiac Savelkoul.
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