William "Bill" M. Schmitz

William “Bill” M. Schmitz, of Waukesha, died on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at Seasons Hospice at the age of 71. He was born in Waukesha on July 10, 1943 the son of Carl and Vera (nee Cook) Schmitz. He was a lifelong member of St. Joseph Catholic Church where he sang in the boy’s choir and served as an altar boy. Bill earned his bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. On August 24, 1963 he married his wife Darlene “Dolly” Ruch at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Bill was an avid sheeps-head player, auto-racing fan, and a football and hobby train enthusiast. Most of all he loved being with his family.

He will be forever missed by his wife of 51 years, Dolly of Waukesha and their daughters, Anne (Roger Bilicki) Schmitz of Mukwonago and Lisa Schmitz of Waukesha. He was the dear grandfather of Michael (Nicole) Brinkley of Aurora, CO, Meghan (Bill) Szydel of North Prairie, Amber (Josh) Olszen of Colorado Springs, CO and Kimberly (Tyler) Weston of Kailua, HI, and great-grandfather of Kira and Liam Szydel, Mia Olszen and Kassandra Brinkley. He is further survived by his brother Charles Schmitz of Waukesha, his sister Judith (Bill) Wesley of Waukesha, his sisters-in-law, Mary Ellen Schmitz of Sun City, AZ, and Judith Brierton of Plymouth, MN, his former sister-in-law Elizabeth LaPaz, special nephew Joe Schmitz along with other nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Fred, Bob and Larry and his sister Mary.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the nurses and staff of Seasons Hospice for their care and compassion.

Visitation will be held on Monday, February 9 from 4:00PM until the time of the 6:00PM vigil service at the Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, 1110 S. Grand Avenue, Waukesha. Services continue at the funeral home on Tuesday, February 10 with prayers beginning at 9:30AM followed by the procession to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 822 N. East Avenue, Waukesha for the 10:30AM Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will immediately follow at Prairie Home Cemetery. Memorials in Bill’s name are appreciated to the American Heart Association, 1555 N. Rivercenter Drive Suite 212, Milwaukee, WI 53212.

Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, Crematory and Preplanning Services is honored to serve the family. For further information, please call the funeral home at 262-547-4035 or visit our website at www.waukeshafunerals.com for directions or to leave an online tribute message.