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Donald L. Schmitt, 92, of Storm Lake passed away on March 25, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.
Funeral Mass will take place Wednesday, April 1, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Storm Lake. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 31, from 5-7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. vigil followed by a KC Rosary at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the family.
Don was born Feb. 10, 1934, at Porath Hospital in Storm Lake to Frank and Blanche (Cockburn) Schmitt of Alta. He attended Maple Valley School from first through sixth grade and St. Mary’s in Storm Lake from seventh to 12th grade.
Don entered the U.S. Army in 1955 and discharged in December 1956. He served at a missile site that protected Chicago. He also graduated from Powerman School in Augusta, Ga.
Don married the love of his life on Oct. 15, 1955, at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Storm Lake. They enjoyed 70 plus years of marriage and were blessed with five children.
Don worked for DeKalb his entire career. He started in Storm Lake, became inspector at the Shenandoah DeKalb plant, superintendent at Monmouth, Ill., and plant manager at the Warren, Ill., Oelwein and Boone plants. After retirement, he spent several years traveling to Puerto Rico, Maui and Kauai, as a consultant for DeKalb.
Don was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, serving as Columbus Club President and helping for many years with the fish fries and the funnel cake stand. He, along with Don Reiling, were known as the Don’s. They made many of the props for the St. Mary’s Ball and the school plays. They also did a lot of repair work for the school and church.
A highlight of Don’s later years was the opportunity to travel on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., and being surprised to be greeted by his grandson Josh at the airport in D.C. and his two sons and wives at the monuments on the national mall.
Don was a very talented woodworker and also was gifted at restoring old tractors. He loved fishing with many trips to Minnesota and Canada over the years. He also loved spending time with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
After retirement, his love for the farm was fulfilled by working for the Foell Farms, helping with spring and fall seasonal work. Don was an avid reader of the Iowa magazine and World War II books.
Survived by his wife of 70 years, Betty; children: Carolyn, Steve (Sharon), Lynne Thompson (Jim), Gary (Lisa) and Joni Gosch (Brian); grandchildren: Jeremy (Tanya) Summerlin, Travis (Victoria) Schmitt, Joshua (Briene) Schmitt, Dr. Cory (Teresa) Schmitt, Scott (Michelle) Thompson, Christopher (Briana) Gosch; grandson-in-law Bill Sekulovich; great-grandchildren: Tucker and Ava Summerlin; Korra Schmitt; Eddie, Charlotte and William Schmitt; Cole and Eli Thompson; Will, Sloane and Beau Sekulovich; and one Baby Schmitt due in May.
Also survived by sisters, Veronica Lutter and Dorothy Waldo; brother-in-law David Breon; sisters-in-law, Nancy Overmohle and Eileen Overmohle.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Blanche Schmitt; parents-in-law, Tony and Lauretta Overmohle; grandchildren: Dr. Nicole Summerlin, Dr. Kelli Sekulovich, Elizabeth and Nicholas Gosch; granddaughter-in-law DeAnn Schmitt.
Also preceded by brothers: Richard Schmitt, Charles (Ed) Schmitt, Joseph Schmitt and Jim Schmitt; sister Mary Norris; brothers-in-law: Fran Waldo, Merritt Lutter, Leo Overmohle, Donald Overmohle, Luvern Overmohle, Francis Koch, Norm Kestel, Fred Jansen; sisters-in-law: Kay Schmitt, Phyllis Schmitt, Rita Jansen, Rosemary Overmohle, Mary Breon, Lois Kestel and Rosie Koch.
