Frances ‘Fran’ Schmitt

Frances “Fran” Schmitt, 78, of Charles City, went to her heavenly home on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024.

A funeral Mass for Fran Schmitt will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Charles City with Reverend Tom Heathershaw officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Roseville.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, at Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home in Charles City beginning with a Rosary prayer at 4:30 p.m. and ending with a scripture service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour before the funeral Mass at the church on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are encouraged to be given to a charity of your choice in memory of Fran.

Fran was born Aug. 1, 1946, at the Cedar Valley Hospital in Charles City to George James and Marjorie Mae (Hull) Gabel. She was a lifelong resident of Floyd County graduating from Rockford Senior High in 1964. On Aug. 8, 1970, she married Kenneth Edward Schmitt at Holy Name Catholic Church in Rockford. To this union one daughter, Brenda Mae, was born on Feb. 10, 1972.

She began her employment in the late summer of 1964 with Attorney B.C. Sullivan; then three years as bookkeeper at the Rockford Municipal; and then as secretary with Attorney Mike Allison until December 1971 when Fran opted to being a stay-at-home mom until 1984. Her employment then included part-time at RRMR School and reporter with the Rockford Register. Full time employment began with State Farm Insurance Agent Toni Noah, then 13 years with Charles City Area Development and Community Revitalization and Chamber of Commerce. After retirement she worked part-time at the “Y” and in February of 2009 began as the first director of the Northeast Iowa Welcome Center at Nashua until December 2011 when she was needed at home to attend to her ill husband. For several years she also covered the monthly meetings of RRMR School District and City Councils of Rockford and Marble Rock.

Fran was also involved in many organizations including American Legion Auxiliary (president), Floyd Country Cattlewomen (president); 4-H Council (secretary); and was a 4-H leader of her daughter’s group. She was very active in her church (St. Mary, Roseville) including acting as lector, greeter, Eucharist Minister, Rosary Leader, Sacristan, taught CCD for 30 years, Rosary Society (leader often) included being in charge of three cookbook committees and several church directory committees; did the church newsletter for 30 plus years; member of the church council, deanery council and archdiocesan priest council. Church meant a lot to Fran and she took a three-year study to be a lay minister along with in place of a Priest Class. Fran was an avid Yankee and Hawkeye fan. She also enjoyed in her retirement writing letters and sending out cards to people for every birthday or holiday.

Fran is survived by her daughter, Brenda at home and good friends Michele Hubka and Jennifer Wilson (Jon) and their children, who were like grandchildren to Fran: Zachary Latting, Kaitlynn Wilson, Morgan Latting, Kenzie James, Kennedy King, Logan Gross, Nick Wilson, Camdyn Gross, and Graeson Wilson, along with 8 great-grandchildren; brothers, Frank (Carol) Gabel and Tom Gabel; sister, Liz Gabel; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Kenneth; brother, John Gabel and his wife, Carol.

Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, 1205 South Main Street, Charles City, Iowa 50616 is in charge of local arrangements. Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall for the family at www.hauserfh.com.