Margaret A. Schmitz, 78, Wabasha

 Margaret A. Schmitz, age 78, of Wabasha, died early Friday, August 28, 2015 at St. Elizabeth’s Health Care Center in Wabasha. She was born December 14, 1936 in Cumberland, WI, the only child of Patrick and Lottie (Hefferman) Wehrenberg. The family later moved to Kellogg where she attended school. She married Wayne Schmitz September 14, 1954 at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Kellogg. Margaret was a homemaker and for 27 years she worked as a nurse aide at St. Elizabeth’s Health Care Center in Wabasha. Wayne died April 10, 2015.
 She was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church and a member of its Council of Catholic Women. Margaret was very proud of her Irish heritage and in 2009 she and her daughter, Pat, took the trip of her lifetime, travelling to Ireland. She loved spending time with her children and her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
 Margaret is survived by her children, Patricia Maringer, Lewiston, MN, Daniel Schmitz (Cheryl Edelbach), Kellogg, MN, Donald Schmitz, La Crosse, WI, Robert “Smokey” Schmitz, Kellogg, MN, and Wayne “Toad” (Chris) Schmitz, Wabasha, MN; eleven grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne, son, Michael, great-grandson, Nathan Sholing and her parents, Pat and Lottie Wehrenberg.
 A funeral Mass was offered on Monday, August 31, 2015 at 11:00am at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Kellogg with the Reverend Monsignor Thomas Cook officiating. Interment was in St. Agnes Cemetery. Casket bearers were grandsons, Zachery Schmitz, Joshua Schmitz, Robert and Michael Maringer, Allen Schmitz and Joe Schmitz. Family and friends called at the Abbott Funeral Home in Wabasha on Sunday from 4-7pm with a rosary service at 4pm and they called at the church on Monday one hour before the Mass. The Abbott Funeral Home of Wabasha was in charge of arrangements. www.abbottfh.com