Bernard J. Schmitz, 86, Fort Recovery, died at 5:44 a.m. Nov. 24, 2010, at The Gardens at St. Henry.

He was born Feb. 10, 1924, in Crawford County, to George and Blanche Fisher Schmitz. In 1950, he married Irma Abels, who died in 1974. On Nov. 25, 1975, he married Eileen Rauh, who survives.

Also surviving are two daughters, Arlene (Ray) Parr, Schaumburg, Ill., Pam (Dave) Lange, Coldwater; two sons, Dan (Marilyn) Schmitz, Fort Recovery, Todd Schmitz, Pinon Hills, Calif.; four stepdaughters, Charlene (Milton) Bergman, Fort Recovery, Sue (Sam) Schmiesing, Coldwater, Emma (Tom) Sudhoff, Fort Recovery, Phyllis (Jerry) Macke, Wapakoneta; three stepsons, Hank (Alice) Kaiser, Celina, Art (Jackie) Kaiser, Celina, and John (Deb) Kaiser, Rossburg; a brother, Ralph (Alvera) Schmitz, New Weston; two sisters, Agnes (Alfred) Heydinger, Jacksonville, Fla., and Rosemary Riley, Shelby; three sisters-in-law, Delores Schmitz, St. Henry, Hilday Schmitz, Rossburg, and Ann Schmitz, Versailles; 32 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

Also deceased are two grandchildren; four brothers, Edgar, Paul, Robert and Cletus Schmitz; and a sister, Rita Boeckman.

He worked at the former Avco New Idea in Coldwater and was a farmer. He served in the U.S. Navy on the U.S.S. Yorktown CVS-10 in the Pacific during World War II. He was a member of the American Legion Post 345 in Fort Recovery and the Holy Name Society of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Joe.

Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Peter Catholic Church in St. Peter, the Rev. Thomas Dorn officiating. Burial with graveside military honors by the Fort Recovery American Legion is at the church cemetery.

Calling is 2-8 p.m. Friday and 9-9:45 a.m. Saturday at Brockman-Boeckman Funeral Home in Fort Recovery.

Memorials may be made to the preservation of the USS Yorktown CVS-10.

Condolences may be left at www.brockmanboeckmanfh.com.