Murphys, CA…Herman Aloysius Schmitz 1929 – 2026. Herman Aloysius Schmitz, 96, passed away February 6, 2026, in Las Cruces New Mexico. Smit, also called Sonny, was born in 1929 at home in Council Bluffs Iowa. He was the son of Herman A. Schmitz and Ruth C. Schmitz, née Britt. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 years, Kathryn M. Schmitz, née Rief and their only daughter Marcy Lynn who passed as an infant, his parents, two sisters and a brother. He is survived by three sons Michael (Sue), Mark (Sandy) and Marten (Margarita); in addition, five grandchildren: Molly Aguilar (Scott), Anna, Sebastian (Elaine), Marcy, and Sara; six great –grandchildren, and former daughter-in-law Dee Schmitz.

As a young man Herman worked as an electrical lineman then for the railroad in Council Bluffs. Seeing the changes that were coming to the railroads due to construction of the interstates and the future of the shipping industry, he packed and moved his family to Orange County California in 1961. He became a firefighter with City of Santa Ana where he retired as a captain, eventually moving to Murphys in 1992 living there until moving to New Mexico to be close to family in 2021.

Herman was a wonderful father and husband, lived a good long life and got much satisfaction in living life to its fullest. He will be missed dearly by those closest to him.

He will be laid to rest next to Kathryn following mass at St Patrick’s church.