Lila June Schmitz

Lila June Schmitz passed away on January 10, 2015 at the age of 88 years and 9 months. She was born on April 17, 1926, the daughter of Bert Gaston and Lottie Goodshaw Gaston at Beloit, Kansas. She was the youngest of three children. She went through eight years of grade school in a one room rural school house in Beloit and Bigelow, KS. She graduated from Frankfort High School, Frankfort, Ks, Class of 1944. After graduation, she moved to Kansas City, MO, where she worked at Pratt and Whitney Defense Plant and Montgomery Ward mail order department. She returned to Beloit in 1948. On June 12, 1948, she married William Schmitz at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Beloit by Msgr. William Butzer. The couple celebrated 61 years of married life in 2009. To this union four children were born, Paula, Gary , Rodger, and Jan. After the children were in school, she returned to work at Duckwall's, North Kansas Savings, and the Mitchell County Engineer's Office retiring in 1989. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and St. John's Ladies Guild. She was preceded in death by her husband William, her parents and two brothers, Frank and Junior Gaston. Survivors are daughter Paula Gillespie, Wichita, KS; three sons, Gary and wife Audrey Schmitz; Kansas City, MO, Rodger and wife Diane Schmitz, Beloit; Jan Schmitz, Yukon OK; 4 granddaughters; 4 step- grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; and 3 step-great grandchildren, a brother-in-law, Robert Schmitz and wife Helene of Tulsa, OK, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. Her family and extended family were very important to her and she loved them all dearly and looked forword to when they came home to visit. Memorials may be given to the St. John Schools Education Fund. Visitation will be from 12:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. Rosary and Vigil will be held at 7:00 P.M. at McDonald-Roberts Funeral Home. Mass Service will be held Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Beloit. Interment at the St. John's Cemetery.