Joan T. Schmitz

Born in Monroe, Joan was the daughter of Vallie and Alice (Cousino) Dussia. Joan married the love of her life, James G. Schmitz, January 7, 1950 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church which was officiated by her brother Fr. Emil J. Dussia. In 1945 Joan and Jim met at a St. John’s Youth Activities dance. Their first dance and lifelong favorite song was “Oh! What It Seemed to Be.” She was a 1948 graduate of St. Mary Academy and was very proud of the advanced sewing skills that one year at Marygrove College gave her. A dedicated homemaker, she also worked as a Memory Care Activities Aide at the Lutheran Home, owned Geri Fashions (handmade clothing for invalid and wheelchair bound clients). She was a Beautician, a Switchboard Operator for Michigan Bell, volunteered for MCOP and she served as chairperson for a K through 9 program. Joan’s interests included: sewing, making and creating patterns and garments for the infirmed; collecting, cleaning and repairing antique sewing machines; going to auctions, golfing, perch fishing, watching and talking about the stock market and playing bridge. She especially loved music. Her husband, Jim, recalls that her favorite interests’ memory was winning 1st prize for her Halloween-themed quilt made on an antique sewing machine for the International Sewing Machine Collectors Society Convention in Charlotte, 2010. Joan and Jim enjoyed 19 retirement years in Sebastian, Florida before returning to Monroe in 2011 with her early health concerns. She had been seriously ill since January 5 of this year. Joan leaves to cherish her memory, Jim, her husband of 70 years; her children: Marilyn (Robert) Prucka of Monroe, Nancy (Dennis) Nemec of Ida and Eric Jon (Robbyn) Schmitz of Amanda, Ohio; grandchildren: Michael (Leah) Prucka, William (Sandra) Prucka, Robert (Tammy) Prucka, Nichole Nemec (fiance’ Trevor Loveland), Danielle (David) Wilton, Michelle (Corey) Kanitz and Megan Schmitz; great grandchildren: Adam Prucka, Evelyn Prucka, Maxwell Prucka, Marlowe Prucka, Olive Prucka, Robert Prucka, Jacob Kanitz and Nolan Kanitz; as well as a brother R. Jules Dussia. Sadly, she was preceded in death by two sons: Gary M. and Kevin J. Schmitz, her parents and 4 siblings: Hilary, Fr. Emil and Orion Dussia and Opal Foutz. Charitable donations can be made to St. Vincent de Paul.