- Date Of Birth: November 11, 1928
- Date Of Death: October 20, 2016
- State: Maryland
Dale Joseph Schmitz, 87, of Rockville, Maryland, formerly of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Rockford, Illinois, died Thursday, October 20, 2016, at his home in Rockville. Dale was born in Caledonia, Minnesota in 1928, the son of Nicolas and Martha (Palen) Schmitz and brother of Adona Schmitz Hudson. At age 12, he moved to Rockford, Illinois. He attended St. Thomas Catholic High School in Rockford and was a 1950 graduate of Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa with a BA degree in Economics. Dale was employed by J. L. Clark (later Clarcor) Manufacturing Co., based in Rockford, in 1944. He retired from his position as Vice President and Plant Manager of the Lancaster Plant in 1989.
Throughout his life Dale was active in a wide range of organizations. In Rockford, he led the County Red Cross Board, United Way Fund, and local political and church groups. He was elected to two four-year terms with the Rockford City Council. In Lancaster, he was active in the Chamber of Commerce, United Way Fund, Franklin and Marshall University Business Fund Drives, Fulton Area Homes Fund Drives and the Zoning Hearing Board. He also served as a member of the Naval Reserves for nine years.
Mr. Schmitz married Joanne McCabe of Rockford in 1953. They have four children, Susan (David) Petrocci of Rockville;Nancy (Frank Corn) Schmitz of Hilton Head Island, SC; Patricia (Gerald) Olszewski of Potomac; and Thomas (Caryl) Schmitz of Gettysburg, PA. He has 11 grandchildren – Katherine Petrocci, Matthew Petrocci, Laura Petrocci, Sarah Petrocci Cerrone, Patrick Bowersox, Timothy Bowersox, Christopher Olszewski, Claire Olszewski, T.J. Schmitz, Elizabeth Schmitz, Joseph Schmitz and four great-grandchildren, Dominic Petrocci,Alexander Olszewski, Ava Martinez, and Madison Alpert.
He was a long-time member of the Lancaster Country Club. He enjoyed golf, tennis, platform tennis, swimming and biking.
