Full Obituary

     MARLIN R. "COON" SCHMITZ, age 84, of Granton, WI, passed away at Gunderson Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI, on Sunday, January 8, 2017.  Funeral services will be held at 11am on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at St. Anthony Catholic Church, in Loyal, WI.  Rev. Steve Brice will officiate and burial will follow in St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be his grandchildren:  Craig Naedler, Eric Naedler, Bryce Wurm, Justin Schmitz, Brandon Schmitz and Melissa, Schmitz.  Military rites will be conducted by the Loyal American Legion Post 175.  Visitation will be held at the church, on Saturday, from 9am until time of service.
     Marlin Ray Schmitz was born on December 27, 1932 on the home farm in the Town of York, Clark County, WI, the son of William H. and Adelia F. (Kopf) Schmitz.  He was raised on the family farm, received his education at Heathville School, and attended Loyal High School.  After completing his education, Marlin worked on the railroad and drove truck for Glen Roehl Trucking for a few years.  He was inducted into the U.S. Army on March 26, 1953 and served until his honorable discharge on March 17, 1955.  Marlin returned to Clark County and farmed with his brother, Leroy.  He was united in marriage to Virginia M. Wolf on May 30, 1959 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Loyal, WI.  Marlin farmed his entire life in Clark County, retiring in 1997.  In addition to farming, he also held other jobs, including, working at Ploman Sawmill, in Chili, WI, seasonally in the cranberry marshes near Nekoosa, and for his son, Mark, at Country Builders, in Spencer.
     He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, a former member of St. Stephen Catholic Church in Chili, a member of the Loyal American Legion Post 175, the VFW, and the National Farmers Organization.
     Marlin had many interests, but especially loved spending time with his family and friends, playing cards, throwing horseshoes, traveling, shooting pool, and cutting firewood.
     He will be dearly missed by his wife, Virginia;  5 children:  Janeen (Rodney) Naedler of Granton,  Mark (Kelly) Schmitz of Spencer,  Kay (Russ) Wurm of Potter, WI,  Terry Schmitz (Virginia Foster) of Neillsville,  Dean Schmitz (Lisa Delis) of Granton, WI;  15 grandchildren;  9 great-grandchildren;  one brother:  Gary Schmitz of Spencer, WI;  several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
     He was preceded in death by his parents;  one grandson: Joshua Schmitz on December 26, 2006;  one sister:  Shirley Tesmer;  and 2 brothers:  Russell "Bud" and Leroy Schmitz.