SHIRLEY A. SCHMALTZ

Shirley A. Schmaltz, 86 a long time resident of Devils Lake, ND passed away early Monday morning, April 30, 2012 at the Sanford Health Palliative Care, Fargo, ND. Mass of Christian Burial for Shirley will be held on Thursday, May 3, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with burial in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Concelebrating the Mass will be Fr. John Cavanaugh and Fr. Michael Schommer. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 pm. Visitation on Friday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Shirley Ann was born on December 11, 1925 at Drayton, ND the daughter of Hans and Emerentia (McCann) Rasmussen. Her parents died when she was only 15 months old, so her grandparents Peter and Hannah McCann of Grand Forks, ND raised her. Shirley graduated from St. Mary’s Academy, Devils Lake. Shirley was united in marriage to Clemens S. Schmaltz on August 21, 1945 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. They established their home in Devils Lake where they lived, worked and raised their family through the years. As a married couple, Clem and Shirley are best known as the owners and operators of Mike’s Curbside Service and later Clem’s Fireworks. Even after Clem passed away on June 4, 1987, Shirley continued in the Fireworks business into her early 80 years of life. In 1959, Shirley began working at Mercy Hospital working in various positions, but most of her 30 plus years were as the front desk receptionist, retiring from there in the early 1990’s. Shirley was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Altar Society and Catholic Daughters of the Americas and also Mercy Hospital Auxiliary. She and Clem were very active in the Squares and Circles Square Dance Club, traveling around North Dakota. Clem served as the “caller” for the group. When Shirley’s grandchildren started to play hockey, a new passion was inflamed. She made every effort to attend all of their games and became an avid Sioux Hockey fan and even spent many evenings watching the NHL games on TV. She was known to skip out on a few family gatherings to catch a glimpse of what was happening in hockey. Shirley also enjoyed reading, working word search puzzles and crocheting afghans. She lovingly gave away the afghans to family and friends. Shirley is survived by her loving family of seven children, eighteen grandchildren, twenty-seven great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. Her family includes her three daughters and sons-in-law, Mary and Edwin Harrington of Minot, ND and children Steve and Sandra; Fran and Greg Joramo of West Fargo, ND and children Greg II and Antoinette; Angela Olson of Dilworth, MN and child Justin; her four sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Lynda Schmaltz of West Fargo, ND and children Elizabeth, Cheryl and Michael; Anthony Schmaltz of Devils Lake and child Scott; Peter and Vicki Schmaltz also of Devils Lake and children Chris, Jeremy, Travis and Chad; Robert and Geri Schmaltz of Raymond, IA and children Aimee, Jessica, Jamie, Jodi and Jayson. Shirley is also survived by several in-laws and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Clemens; son Michael James Schmaltz I; grandson Aaron Matthew Joramo; great grandson Jamisson Robert Schmaltz; son-in-law Steve Olson and mother-in-law Frances Schmaltz-Bohl. Serving as Pall Bearers for Shirley will be Steve Harrington, Greg Joramo II, Elizabeth Galvan, Scott Schmaltz, Justin Olson, Chris Schmaltz and Amiee Wolff. Honorary Bearers will be Sandra Neiss, Antoinette Autrey, Jeremy Schmaltz, Travis Schmaltz, Chad Schmaltz and Jessica Schmaltz. Reading the Scriptures will be Sandra Neiss and Antoinette Autrey with Gift Bearers as Kaitlyn Autrey, Carson Neiss and Brianna Thompson and honorary Gift Bearers all of Shirley’s great grandchildren. Eucharistic Ministers will be Mary Harrington and Fran Joramo and special music by Todd Neiss and Ryan Neiss.