Donald Stark Schmitt

DONALD SCHMITT
JERSEYVILLE -  Donald Stark Schmitt, 98, died at 4:50 p.m., Sunday, November 11, 2018 at Jersey Community Hospital in Jerseyville after suffering a heart attack a week earlier.
He was born in St. Louis, Mo., on March, 9, 1920, and was the son of the late Willis F. and Bertha Lee (Stark) Schmitt.
Donald graduated from Beaumont High School in St. Louis, and later attended the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville.  He was a gifted baseball player and played with various teams and organizations throughout his younger years.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving his country with the United States Army.  After his honorable discharge, he returned home to his family in St. Louis where he remained with his wife and raised his family.
He was employed as a maintenance carpenter for the St. Louis City Public School system for many years, retiring in 1995.   In 2005, they relocated to Jerseyville in order to be closer to his daughter and son in-law, where he attended the First United Methodist Church in Jerseyville.
He married  the former Ruth Katherine Rathke on Jan. 6, 1942 in Bremerton, Washington, and the married life spanned 66 years before her death on April 11, 2008.
Surviving are two daughters and sons in-law, Donna and James Mitchell of Watauga, Texas and Nancy and John Boehlein of Jerseyville; seven grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter; and one sister, Doris Shockley of Centennial, Co.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Gerald Schmitt and QuentinSchmitt.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in Jerseyville, with Revs. Bob Taylor and Dennis Hill officiating.
He will be laid to rest  with his wife at the Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis in a private ceremony on Monday.  Military graveside rites commemorating his service to his country will be provided.
Memories may be left at www.crawfordfunerals.com
 

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