Funeral Services for Mary J. Schmitz, age 94, of Broken Bow, will be held Thursday, July 19, at 10:30am, in the St. Joseph's Catholic Church, in Broken Bow, with Father Hugh Spanel officiating. Rosary will be recited Wednesday, July 18, at 7:00pm, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Burial will be in the Catholic Cemetery with Iverson Memorial Chapel of Broken Bow in charge of arrangements. Visitation will be Wednesday, July 18, from 2:00-7:00pm, with the family greeting friends from 5:00-7:00. A memorial has been established to the family or St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Mary is survived by her son Gary (Shirley) Schmitz of Anselmo, daughter Carolyn (Jim) Puckett of Tuscon, AZ, 3 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren, sister Joan Hammond of Houston, TX, sisters-in-law Mary Mohatt of Broken Bow, Alta Mohatt Lincoln, and brother-in-law Dr. Dillard Gates of Vancouver, WA.

Mary J. Schmitz, daughter of Charles and Anna (Bamesberger) Mohatt was born on May 17, 1918 in Custer County, near Anselmo, Nebraska, the 3rd of 9 children. She spent her childhood in and around Anselmo, and graduated from Anselmo High School in 1935. On November 29, 1939 she married Lawrence (Bus) Schmitz of Anselmo at St. Anselm's Catholic Church in Anselmo. One son and one daughter were blessed to this union; Gary & Carolyn. The family farmed near Ortello Valley until 1978 when they moved to Broken Bow. Mary and Bus were married 41 years before his passing on June 14, 1981. Mary belonged to several Anselmo Community Clubs, card clubs in Anselmo and Broken Bow, and was very active in St. Anselm's and St. Joseph's Altar Societies. Mary was the Custer County Chief correspondent for Ortello Valley for many years, and especially enjoyed playing pinochle and gardening.