Adrian A. Schmitz

Adrian A. Schmitz, 81, Centralia, KS, died Tuesday, February 21, 2006 at the Nemaha Valley Community in Seneca.
     He was born January 16, 1925, on a farm north of St. Benedict, the son of George and Louise Oenbring Schmitz. He grew up there and helped on the family farm. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1944 and was inducted into the U.S. Army in May of 1944. Adrian served as a combat rifleman in France and Germany. After his discharge in 1945, he returned to the family farm.
     On May 23, 1951, he married Dorothy Mathewson at Sacred Heart Church at Baileyville. They farmed several farms from 1951 to 1955 until they moved to their present farm southeast of Centralia. Besides farming and livestock, they had a dairy operation.
     He was a member of St. Patrick’s Church at Corning where he served on the church committee, the Knights of Columbus in Seneca for over 50 years, the Arthur L. Mills Post #37 of the American Legion , and the Disabled American Veterans. He volunteered at the VA in Topeka for 10 years helping with patients and running paper work. Adrian enjoyed fishing and hunting.
     Survivors are his wife, Dorothy of the home; five sons, Leo of Antonito, CO. Melvin of Olathe, Sylvester of Centralia, Benedict of Topeka, and George of Hoyt; four daughters, Eloise Kearns of Salina, Lucy Dickers of Warrensburg, MO, Alice McPhail of Chapman, and Ann Deters of Seneca; a brother, Norbert Schmitz of Axtell; three sisters, Helen Bergman of Topeka, Martha Engelken of Frankfort and Norita Rempe of Hutchinson; and 20 grandchildren.
     He was preceded in death by a 15 month old son, Cletus, March 12, 1957 and three brothers, Clarence, Francis, and Lambert.
     Mass of Christian burial will be 10 AM Thursday at St. Patrick’s Church at Corning. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca on Wednesday at 3 & 7 PM.
     Memorials may be given for St. Patrick’s Church, and sent in care of the family.