,Springfield, Minnesota, August 27, 2025
News Summary
Leo Anthony Schmitz, a dedicated family man, farmer, and golf enthusiast, died at 82 in Springfield. Remembered for his contributions to the community and love for the outdoors, Leo’s legacy continues through his family and friends. His passion for golf and storytelling made him a beloved figure. A Latin Requiem High Mass is planned, followed by a reception at Springfield Golf Course.
Springfield — Local Dad, Farmer, Truck Driver and Golf Fan Leo Anthony Schmitz Dies at 82
Springfield says goodbye to a man who lived large on the fairway and the farm
In a life that read like a hometown novel, Leo Anthony Schmitz passed away at age 82 on August 22, 2025 at his home in Springfield, Minnesota. A man who spent decades shaping the land and later the highways, he is being remembered as a dedicated family man, a community fixture and a golfer who loved the game as much as the company.
Born on January 12, 1943 to Leonard and Florence (Luther) Schmitz and raised on the family farm west of Springfield, Leo’s life started in the kind of rural setting that turns boys into steady hands and story-tellers. He attended St. Raphael’s grade school and graduated from Springfield High School in 1961. His life later revolved around family, faith and time outdoors — the ingredients of a Midwestern saga.
The life between the bunkers and the barn
A dairy farmer for the bulk of his working life, Leo knew early mornings, hard work and the unpredictable drama of rural life. In his early 60s he made a notable career pivot and became a long-haul truck driver, hauling pontoon boats across the U.S. and Canada. That move added miles to his stories and more stamps to the passport he and his late wife used to roam the country.
Golf, though, was where many who knew him saw his competitive grin come alive. A founding member of the Sanborn Farmer’s Golf and Health Club, Leo posted an enviable golf ledger — including four hole-in-ones. For golf fans who can picture green grass, a cool breeze and old friends laughing behind the tee, Leo fit right in. He played the game hard, joked about the breaks, and kept showing up to play another round.
Hunter, fisher, and world traveler
Known widely as “Lucky Leo” among friends — a nickname earned from dice tables, card nights and trips to Las Vegas — he also carried a rifle for pheasant and deer seasons and a spear for frozen lakes. Winter ice-spearing at Lake Winnibigoshish and elk hunts in Colorado were among the outdoors pursuits that filled his calendar. He passed those skills down to his grandchildren, taking pride in teaching them how to fish and hunt while passing along a love of the outdoors and a wry sense of humor.
Travel was a family affair, too. For decades he and his wife Mary traveled widely — aided by Mary’s ownership of Sterling Travel — adding memories that complemented his hometown roots.
Faith, service and family roots
Leo was a practicing Catholic who received the full consolations of the Church at the time of his death. He started attending the Latin Mass around 15 years ago and grew fond of its traditions. His civic life included membership in the Knights of Columbus and service in the National Guard Reserve. Politically minded, he was a long-time member of the John Birch Society and worked to instill in his family a respect for independent thinking and the republican form of government.
Family was central. He and Mary were married on September 10, 1966 at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church and shared 58 years of marriage until Mary’s passing. Leo is survived by four children — Anthony, Daniel, Peter and Martha — along with 19 grandchildren, a brother Gilbert Schmitz and a sister Angie Schnobrich. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary, his parents, two brothers, a sister, two nieces and several brothers- and sisters-in-law.
Services and final rounds
Visitation will be held at Sturm Funeral Home in Springfield on August 28, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a rosary service beginning at 4:00 p.m. Additional visitation will take place on August 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the same funeral home.
A Latin Requiem High Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on August 29 at the Church of the Japanese Martyrs in Leavenworth, MN. Following Mass, Leo will be interred at St. Raphael Catholic Cemetery in Springfield. Family and friends are invited to a luncheon and reception afterward at the Springfield Golf Course — fitting for a man whose life mixed fairways, family and farm.
Legacy — the short game and the long haul
To golf fans, Leo was more than the sum of his scores. He was a founding member who helped shape a club culture where stories were traded as freely as mulligans. To his kids and grandchildren he was a teacher, bringing them along on hunting blinds and fishing holes. To neighbors, he was a farmer and a friend. And to anyone who listened, he was a storyteller — the kind who could turn a par-three into a tale that lasted longer than a match.
His life moved from fields to highways to greens and beyond. In all of it, he kept a steady swing and an appetite for the next round.
FAQ
Q: When did Leo Anthony Schmitz pass away?
A: He passed away on August 22, 2025, at his home in Springfield, Minnesota.
Q: What are the visitation and service details?
A: Visitation will be at Sturm Funeral Home in Springfield on August 28, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (rosary at 4:00 p.m.), and again on August 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The Latin Requiem High Mass is at 11:00 a.m. on August 29 at the Church of the Japanese Martyrs in Leavenworth, MN, followed by interment at St. Raphael Catholic Cemetery and a luncheon at Springfield Golf Course.
Q: What were some of Leo’s hobbies and interests?
A: Leo loved golfing (four hole-in-ones and a founding member of a local golf club), hunting, fishing (including winter ice-spearing), traveling, playing cards and dice, and spending time with his grandchildren.
Q: Who survives him?
A: He is survived by his brother Gilbert Schmitz, sister Angie Schnobrich, his four children (Anthony, Daniel, Peter and Martha), and 19 grandchildren.
Q: What is a Latin Requiem High Mass?
A: It is a traditional Catholic funeral Mass celebrated in Latin with the solemn liturgy appropriate for a funeral rite.
Quick Reference — Service & Personal Info
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Leo Anthony Schmitz |
| Born | January 12, 1943 — Springfield, MN |
| Died | August 22, 2025 — Springfield, MN |
| Visitation | Aug 28, 2025 — 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Sturm Funeral Home (rosary at 4:00 p.m.) Aug 29, 2025 — 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Sturm Funeral Home |
| Mass | Latin Requiem High Mass — Aug 29, 2025 at 11:00 a.m., Church of the Japanese Martyrs, Leavenworth, MN |
| Interment | St. Raphael Catholic Cemetery, Springfield, MN |
| Reception | Luncheon at Springfield Golf Course following interment |
| Family | Wife: Mary (predeceased); Children: Anthony, Daniel, Peter, Martha; 19 grandchildren; brother Gilbert; sister Angie |
| Notable Interests | Golf (founding member, four hole-in-ones), hunting, fishing, long-haul trucking, traveling |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- Nu Journal: Leo Anthony Schmitz Obituary
- Wikipedia: Catholic Funeral Mass
- Legacy: Mary Schmitz Obituary
- Google Search: Leo Anthony Schmitz
- WREX: Illinois State Police Memorial Park Honors Fallen Troopers
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Golf
- Riverbender: Illinois State Police Award 25 Officers with the Medal of Honor
- Google News: Illinois State Police
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