Agnes A. Schmitt

Tuesday, August 15, 2017 7:58 pm

Agnes A. Schmitt, 89, formerly of St. Lucas, died Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, at Traditions in West Union. Mass of Christian Burial is at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, St. Lucas, with Rev. Kyle Digmann and Deacon Jim Zajicek officiating. Mass servers are Kyle and Kalvin Langreck. Cross bearer is Kelby Reicks. Organist is Kathy Meyer. Cantors are Evie Milbrandt and Robert Meyer. St. Luke’s Choir will sing “Softly and Tenderly,” “Hail Mary, Gentle Woman,” “Gift of Finest Wheat” and “Precious Lord.” Memorial song will be sung by Jolene Schaefer and Nikki Riha-Njus. Lectors are Wilma Meyer and Tom Frantzen. Offertory gift bearers are Terri, Marie, Irene and Wilma. Eucharistic minister are Wilma Meyer, Tom Frantzen, Deacon Jim Zajicek and Germaine Langreck. Casket bearers are Agnes’s grandchildren Brian Pahl, Stacy Engelhardt, Nikki Riha, Jessica Frantzen, Jolene Schaefer, James Frantzen, Heather Zajicek and Christopher “Bud” Winter. Interment is at St. Luke’s Catholic Cemetery in St. Lucas. Arrangements are being handled by Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah.

Agnes Amelia (Riha) Schmitt was born Nov. 27, 1927, to Martin and Stella (Novotny) Riha near Fort Atkinson. Agnes attended Ft. Atkinson Catholic School. She was united in marriage to Arthur Schmitt Nov. 27, 1950, at St. John’s Nepomucene Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson. To this union four daughters were born: Terri, Marie, Irene and Wilma. Agnes and Art farmed together southeast of St. Lucas until retirement. In 2008, they moved to St. Lucas. Agnes has been living at Traditions in West Union since November of 2013. She was a member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church, St Luke’s Parish Life and a lifelong member of First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association. Agnes was also a member of the National Catholic Order of Foresters and served as president for numerous years. Agnes loved gardening, canning, cooking and baking. She also enjoyed taking care of her flowers. Agnes and Art enjoyed traveling with family and friends, polka music, dancing and playing cards.

Agnes is survived by four daughters: Terri (Cal) Drew, Decorah; Marie (Chuck) Riha, Fort Atkinson; Irene (Tom) Frantzen, Alta Vista; and Wilma (Robert) Meyer, St. Lucas; eight grandchildren: Brian Pahl, Stacy (Rob) Engelhardt, Nikki (Zach) Riha-Njus, Jessica (Michelle) Frantzen, Jolene (T.J.) Schaefer, James (Amanda Luna) Frantzen, Heather (D.J.) Zajicek, and Christopher “Bud” (Ashley) Winter; 11 great-grandchildren: Hannah and Jordan Pahl, Lexi and Marissa Engelhardt, Beckett Frantzen, Jackie, Jocelyn and Nora Schaefer, Reece Meitner-Luna, Zoey Zajicek and Callie Winter; brother, Donald Riha, Fort Atkinson; sister, Marcie Schneberger, Fort Atkinson; sisters-in-law: Lucy (Urban) Dietzenbach, Cresco and Helen Noska, West Union; brothers-in-law: Edmund (Norma) Schmitt, West Union; Alex (Shirley) Schmitt, St. Lucas and Gerald (Rosetta) Schmitt, St. Lucas; along with many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

Agnes was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Schmitt, March 22, 2016; parents, Martin and Stella (Novotny) Riha; sisters, Anna (Orval) Cook and Martha Riha in infancy; mother and father-in-law, William and Anna (Kuennen) Schmitt; sisters-in-law: Rosie Riha, Rita Schmitt in infancy, Della (Leo) Langreck and Irma (Leonard) Bullerman; brothers-in-law, Leroy Schneberger and Gene Noska.