Memorial

Richard Paul Schmitz, 70, of Cedar Rapids passed away on Monday, October 30, 2017. Funeral Mass will be on Friday, November 3, 2017 at 10 A.M. at All Saints Catholic Church with Rev. John R. Flaherty officiating; a visitation will start at 9 A.M. at the church. 

Richard was born on October 20, 1947 the son of Oscar and Mary (Guggerty) Schmitz. He graduated from Eddyville High School in 1964 and then attended St. Ambrose College. He started working for Link Belt Speeder in 1968 as a part sales supervisor retiring in 2002. Richard then purchased Wernimont Display in 2002 and retiring in 2014.

He married the love of his life Christine Basile on August 8, 1970 at All Saints Catholic Church. His main focus in life was family, loving and caring for everyone. He showed this caring by participating in the Sponsor Couples Program, co-sponsoring a couple from Poland, and by helping couples adopt children from Third World countries. Richard and Tina formed a rosary group and sent those rosaries throughout the world; they attended religious conferences each year and enjoyed sharing information and experiences.  

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Marguerite Larson Pettus, and Rose Marie Cavanaugh, brothers Eugene, Max, and Lawrence. 

Left to cherish Rich’s memories are his wife of 47 years Tina, daughters: Alexa D. Schmitz, Alicia E. Schmitz, grandson Jonathan C. Collins, brother Ron Schmitz from Budapest, Hungary, sister-in-law Mary Ellen Schmitz, and brother-in-law George Cavanaugh. Rich is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins whom he loved.

A memorial fund has been established.