Inez Schmitt

Monday, September 9, 2019 5:12 pm

Inez Schmitt, 79, Of West Union, died Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019, at Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital in West Union. Visitation was from 4 to 6 p.m. with a 3:30 p.m. Rosary Sunday, Sept. 8, at Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in West Union. There also was a one-hour visitation before Mass at the church Monday. Mass of Christian Burial was at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 9, at Holy Name Catholic Church in West Union, with Rev. Dan Knipper as the celebrant. Burial followed at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, West Union. Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of West Union is helping the family with arrangements.

Inez was born Feb. 1, 1940, to Raymond and Hilda (Bohr) Holthaus in Ossian. She graduated from Ossian De Sales in 1958 and then attended Paris Beauty Academy in Cedar Rapids.

Inez was united in marriage with Daniel Schmitt June 2, 1962, at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah, making their home in West Union since then. Inez worked as a hairdresser for 40 years and owned and operated the Hair Hut in West Union, retiring in 2001. She made many lifelong friends at the Hair Hut, both customers and colleagues. Inez was a member of the Holy Name Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters of the Americas and a lifetime member of the Red Hat Society.

Inez loved the Chicago Cubs and Wheel of Fortune. She was also an avid card player. She enjoyed family fishing trips, company trips with her husband, adventures with her sisters and shopping with Barb. She loved going to coffee with friends (and the coffee better be hot and fresh) and last but not least, having a flutter at the casinos with Theresa and Donna.

Inez is survived by her husband, Dan Schmitt of West Union; three children: Lori (Andy) Eastwood of Decorah, Melissa Thompson of West Union and Craig (Katrina) Schmitt of West Union; seven grandchildren: Rebecca Eastwood, Michael Eastwood, Chris Graham, Shane (Nicole Meyer, fiancée) Havenstrite, Matt (Jasmine Jones) Havenstrite, Abby Schmitt and Aidan Schmitt; siblings: Willard (Mary Ellen) Holthaus of Decorah, Judy (Norb) Bullerman of Calmar, Dave Holthaus of Decorah, Connie Sande of Decorah and Maxine (Karl) Klotzbach of Decorah; brother-in-law, Del (Shirley) Schmitt of West Union; and a sister-in-law, Fran (Fred) Hemesath of Ossian.

Inez was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Hilda Holthaus; siblings: Adrian Holthaus, Ken Holthaus, Ron Holthaus, Pat Seiler and Jane (Doug) Blair; brother-in-law, Bernard (Victoria) Schmitt; and sister-in-law, Sr. Gracia Schmitt.