Obituaries
Obituary for HAROLD “CASEY” SCHMITT
Brimfield-HAROLD “CASEY” SCHMITT- Casey Schmitt died May 1, 2017, from complications of old age at the peaceful home of his caretaker, his loving daughter, CeeCee Stickelmaier and her wonderful husband Dave.
Casey was born on September 19, 1928, at the family farm in Kickapoo, Illinois. Casey was the only son of Cecilia Stenger Schmitt and Albert Schmitt, and the only brother to three older sisters, Agnes Hall, Wilma Johnson and Lucille Cady, all of whom have preceded him in death. Casey met his lovely wife, Kate Bienemann, while attending St Mary’s, the little Catholic grade school in Kickapoo. The two remained class mates all of their lives continuing their high school years at Spalding and the Academy of our Lady. Kate passed away in 1997 denying the two 50 years of married life, but the two still enjoyed over 65 years of life together.
Casey and Kate were the proud parents of seven children – CeeCee, Casey, Becky, Bobby, Mary, Mark and Nellie. An eighth child was often discussed whom surely would have been named Nathan, Ned or N something to continue the rhyme game, but Kate’s health cut short these plans. Spouses of the children include David Stickelmaier, Debbie Joy Schmitt, Sebastian Arrigo, Deborah Lea Schmitt, Paul Bowers (both Mary and Paul are deceased), Darlis Schmitt and Rusty Burrell. These seven children and their spouses provided Casey and Kate with 15 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and one great great grandson.
Casey worked at Pepsi Cola for most of his adult life as an employee of the Brady family, and later, as an employee of Pepsi Cola Bottling Company. Kate stayed home for most of her married life fixing lunches, washing and ironing clothes, cleaning house, taking care of the family dog and praying for the safety of her family. It is often said after Kate died, and the daily rosaries stopped, life became significantly more difficult for many of the Schmitt family.
Throughout his life, Casey remained the guiding light for his family. While Kate was often ill and hospitalized, with the help of aunts, uncles, relatives and friends, Casey kept the family together. Sometimes, while life seemed to be falling apart, one would sit back and smile knowing it would not be long before Casey would come home from work, fix supper, and make it all better again. After raising seven children family continued to be this couple’s number one priority - helping with the care of one or more grandchildren, a neighbor’s child John, or offering comfort to a child dealing with the trials of life. You can still remember Casey advising one to “stay in the middle lane until you know which direction life is going to turn next”.
Casey enjoyed sports. While in high school at Spalding he was an important part of the football team that is enshrined in the Peoria Sports Hall of Fame, and was also a starting member of the baseball team. Casey is also enshrined in the annual Turkey day classic hall of fame resulting from his interception and return for touchdown in Spalding’s 7 – 0 victory over Woodruff in the 1946 classic for the City Championship. The Chicago Cubs were his favorite baseball team and was rewarded for 88 years of loyalty with the 2016 worldseries championship. Throughout his life he enjoyed any sporting event, especially those on TV while relaxing on a cozy recliner in his favorite room. Casey tried golf but kept trying to hit a curve ball. Briefly tried fishing and hunting, but again, preferred TV while on his recliner. Many of us can still remember him shouting “base hit” after any exciting or unusual life event.
Casey wanted us to acknowledge the wonderful care he received from Hospice with special mention given to Angie and Susan. Memorial donations may be made to OSF Hospice or St Mary’s Catholic Church in Kickapoo.
Visitation will be from 4 -7 on Thursday, May 4, 2017, at Wright and Salmon Mortuary in Peoria with rosary at 3:30. Casey’s funeral mass will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, May 5, 2017, at St Mary’s in Kickapoo with his beloved priest Father Joe Dondanville as the celebrant. Burial will follow mass at St Patrick’s Cemetery in Kickapoo where he will lie in rest with his wife, his daughter Mary, his parents, grandparents, in-laws, cousins and many more. Someday sooner than later, he will also lie with more of his children and their spouses. Kickapoo, Illinois, what a wonderful place to be from, what a wonderful place to prepare yourself for all that life can bring.
Friends and family may sign the online guestbook or send private condolences by logging onto www.wrightandsalmon.com
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Casey was born on September 19, 1928, at the family farm in Kickapoo, Illinois. Casey was the only son of Cecilia Stenger Schmitt and Albert Schmitt, and the only brother to three older sisters, Agnes Hall, Wilma Johnson and Lucille Cady, all of whom have preceded him in death. Casey met his lovely wife, Kate Bienemann, while attending St Mary’s, the little Catholic grade school in Kickapoo. The two remained class mates all of their lives continuing their high school years at Spalding and the Academy of our Lady. Kate passed away in 1997 denying the two 50 years of married life, but the two still enjoyed over 65 years of life together.
Casey and Kate were the proud parents of seven children – CeeCee, Casey, Becky, Bobby, Mary, Mark and Nellie. An eighth child was often discussed whom surely would have been named Nathan, Ned or N something to continue the rhyme game, but Kate’s health cut short these plans. Spouses of the children include David Stickelmaier, Debbie Joy Schmitt, Sebastian Arrigo, Deborah Lea Schmitt, Paul Bowers (both Mary and Paul are deceased), Darlis Schmitt and Rusty Burrell. These seven children and their spouses provided Casey and Kate with 15 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and one great great grandson.
Casey worked at Pepsi Cola for most of his adult life as an employee of the Brady family, and later, as an employee of Pepsi Cola Bottling Company. Kate stayed home for most of her married life fixing lunches, washing and ironing clothes, cleaning house, taking care of the family dog and praying for the safety of her family. It is often said after Kate died, and the daily rosaries stopped, life became significantly more difficult for many of the Schmitt family.
Throughout his life, Casey remained the guiding light for his family. While Kate was often ill and hospitalized, with the help of aunts, uncles, relatives and friends, Casey kept the family together. Sometimes, while life seemed to be falling apart, one would sit back and smile knowing it would not be long before Casey would come home from work, fix supper, and make it all better again. After raising seven children family continued to be this couple’s number one priority - helping with the care of one or more grandchildren, a neighbor’s child John, or offering comfort to a child dealing with the trials of life. You can still remember Casey advising one to “stay in the middle lane until you know which direction life is going to turn next”.
Casey enjoyed sports. While in high school at Spalding he was an important part of the football team that is enshrined in the Peoria Sports Hall of Fame, and was also a starting member of the baseball team. Casey is also enshrined in the annual Turkey day classic hall of fame resulting from his interception and return for touchdown in Spalding’s 7 – 0 victory over Woodruff in the 1946 classic for the City Championship. The Chicago Cubs were his favorite baseball team and was rewarded for 88 years of loyalty with the 2016 worldseries championship. Throughout his life he enjoyed any sporting event, especially those on TV while relaxing on a cozy recliner in his favorite room. Casey tried golf but kept trying to hit a curve ball. Briefly tried fishing and hunting, but again, preferred TV while on his recliner. Many of us can still remember him shouting “base hit” after any exciting or unusual life event.
Casey wanted us to acknowledge the wonderful care he received from Hospice with special mention given to Angie and Susan. Memorial donations may be made to OSF Hospice or St Mary’s Catholic Church in Kickapoo.
Visitation will be from 4 -7 on Thursday, May 4, 2017, at Wright and Salmon Mortuary in Peoria with rosary at 3:30. Casey’s funeral mass will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, May 5, 2017, at St Mary’s in Kickapoo with his beloved priest Father Joe Dondanville as the celebrant. Burial will follow mass at St Patrick’s Cemetery in Kickapoo where he will lie in rest with his wife, his daughter Mary, his parents, grandparents, in-laws, cousins and many more. Someday sooner than later, he will also lie with more of his children and their spouses. Kickapoo, Illinois, what a wonderful place to be from, what a wonderful place to prepare yourself for all that life can bring.
Friends and family may sign the online guestbook or send private condolences by logging onto www.wrightandsalmon.com
Previous Events
Visitation
Thursday
4
May
4:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
Wright & Salmon Mortuary
2416 N North St
Peoria, IL 61604
Funeral Mass
Friday
5
May
10:30 AM
St. Mary Catholic Church - Kickapoo
9910 W Knox St.
Kickapoo, IL 61528
Cemetery Details
Location
St. Patrick's Cemetery -Brimfield
N Voorhees Rd
Brimfield , IL 61517
Memorial Contribution
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