Ronald W. Schmitz, 90, passed away peacefully Saturday evening at Rolling Hills Senior Living in Sparta, Wis. On Oct. 19, 1934, he was the 11th child born to Louis and Mary (Herricks) Schmitz on the home farm on St. Mary’s Ridge, and on Oct. 19, 2024, exactly 90 years later, he passed away, the last of his 11 siblings.
He was united in holy matrimony to the love of his life, Julia Frederick, on Jan. 11, 1956, at Pine Hollow Catholic Church. From that day forward, Julia was known as “the boss,” a title she wore with pride and affection.
Ronnie helped Julia and the kids milk cows, ran a canned milk route in the morning, and hauled a bulk tank milk route in the afternoon. All of this was done with the help of his hard-working kids. “You Got That Right!”
His sense of humor was as rich and his jokes were as plentiful. He was the kind of guy who could find the funny in the mundane, turning a simple game of cards into an evening of belly laughs and friendly jabs.
Ronnie loved the farm with every fiber of his being. He was born on that land, grew up on it, and poured his soul into it. The farm was where he taught his children the value of hard work, the importance of a good joke, and the unspoken bond that comes with caring for the land. “You Got that Right” became his trademark saying across the ridge.
Ronnie is survived by six children, Thomas (Denise Kissack) Schmitz, Milton “Butch” Schmitz, Douglas Schmitz, Rita (Randy) O’Neill, Connie (Larry) Ronke, and Nancy (Chris Gettinger) Schmitz; his son-in-law, Randy Evans; his grandchildren, Bobbi Jo (Dan) Paulson, Karen (Richard Ziegler) O’Neill, Josh (Megan Flock) O’Neill, Corey (Emily) Ronke, Kelly (Joe) Degenhardt, Nick Evans, Brad Evans, Cassidy, Colten (Grace Leis) and Jacob (Mariah Pierce) Green, and Dakota (Tierra Kaiser) Gettinger; his great-grandchildren, Holden O’Neill, Aria Ziegler, Alivia Paulson, Lane Paulson, Adeline, Madison and Jaden Degenhardt; his sister-in-law, Marllyn Schmitz; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends.
Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Mary; a son, Marvin Schmitz, who died Jan. 3, 1994; a daughter, Lynn Evans, who died Sept. 21, 2024; two infant brothers, Herbert and Arnold; and other brothers and sisters, Lawrence (June), Albert (Luella), Charles (Florence) Paul, Ida (Norbert) Weibel, Julia (Louis) Braun, Agnes Schmitz and Ernie (Lucy) Schmitz.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25, at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church on St. Mary’s Ridge. Father Matthew Bowe will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Friends and family are invited for visitation Thursday, Oct. 24, from 4–7 p.m. at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Cashton, Wis. Visitation will also begin at the funeral home on Friday at 9 a.m. and at 10 a.m. Ronnie will travel to the home farm, where we encourage family, friends and neighbors to gather. We will stop for a moment to pay respect to Ronnie and to his love and devotion to this family farm on our way to Mass.
The Torkelson Funeral Home of Cashton is assisting with the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
“You got that right!” — Ronnie Schmitz, 10/19/34 – 10/19/24
