Section: 325 Lot: 59 Grave: 1

Obituary

Paul Howard Schmitz, 92, of Burlington died Sunday, May 19, 2019 at West Point Care Center in West Point, IA.
Born September 22, 1926 he was the son of Paul and Ella (Duff) Schmitz.
Paul was drafted into the United States Army during his senior year at Burlington High School. He spent his WWII tour of duty overseas in Okinawa and Korea. Upon returning he married his high school sweetheart, Loretta Huppenberger on November 21, 1946.
Paul worked at J.I. Case and attended auto body repair school. With the help of his wife and children, he ran a truck farm South of Burlington. After working in several auto body shops, he opened Paul Schmitz Body Shop in 1973. Paul retired in 1988.
He was a member of First United Methodist Church, the Moose and the Eagles Club.
Paul had many hobbies including stained glass, caning furniture, yard gardens, traveling and watching the Cardinals play ball. But his real passion was remodeling houses. He flipped homes for income and remodeled almost every home he and his children lived in, roughly 20 at last count.
He is survived by his three daughters, Judith (David) Olmstead of Burlington, Cynthia (David) Mc Cannon of Gladstone, IL and Pamella (Tod) Ferguson of Lomax, IL; one son, Thomas Schmitz of Taylorsville, IN; twelve grandchildren; twenty-nine great-grandchildren; one brother, Richard Schmitz of Stronghurst, IL; two sisters, Shirley Mundt of Burlington and Carol Sprock of Stronghurst IL; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his wife Loretta, his parents, two brothers, and one grandson.
The funeral service for Mr. Schmitz will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 28th at Lunning Chapel. Rev. Melisa Bracht-Wagner will officiate. Interment will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery. The Burlington Area Veteran Honor Guard will provide military rites. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.
A memorial has been established for the West Point Care Center in West Point, IA.