Leonard Henry Schmitz died peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Thursday, April 4, 2024 in Butte, NE. Leonard was 94 years old at the time God called him to his eternal home.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, April 12th, 2024 at 10:30AM at the Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Butte, NE.  Burial will follow at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Naper, NE. Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Butte from 5-7:00PM with a rosary beginning at 7:00PM.

Leonard was a devoted husband and father who dearly loved his wife, children, and grandchildren. He is survived by Thelma, his wife of 69 years; his son Douglas and daughter-in-law René of O'Neill, NE; his son David and daughter-in-law Carmen of Naper, NE; and his six grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.

Leonard was born on February 27, 1930 to Joseph and Bertha Schmitz on a farm near Bonesteel, SD. Not long after, the family moved to Naper, where Leonard graduated from high school in 1947. He worked on the family farm until January 1952, when he entered the Army, eventually being stationed in Germany.

Upon his discharge in December 1953, Leonard returned to Naper. He married Thelma Higgins on February 22, 1955 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Naper. They had two children: Douglas, born December 26, 1955; and David, born June 24, 1958.

Douglas married René Kramer, and they have three children: Emily Wlaschin of O'Neill, mother of Jack, Theodore, Oliver, Anne, and Robert; Matthew Schmitz of New York, NY, husband of Julia and father of Hugh, Roger, Josiah, and Austin; and Joseph Schmitz of Lincoln, NE.

David married Carmen Noel, and they have three children: Tony Schmitz of Sioux Falls, SD, husband of Becky and father of Ella, Olivia, Isaac, Aaron, and Isabel; Travis Schmitz of Omaha, NE, husband of Kami and father of Jelissa, Jaycie, Jaydin, Jersi, and Jagger; and Tina Dethlefs of Kearney, NE, wife of Adam.

Leonard and Thelma purchased an abandoned farm east of Naper and made it into a successful family farm. Leonard was involved in community organizations including VFW Post 8256, Lower Niobrara Natural Resources District Board, Naper Lions Club, Boyd County Rural Water District #1, Naper Rural Fire Department, the Knights of Columbus, Naper Catholic Church Council, and the Naper Historical Society.

Leonard is preceded in death by his parents, Joesph and Bertha Schmitz; his brothers, Donald and John; and his sisters, Helen and Bennetta.