Funeral services for 57-year-old Julia “Julie” Ann Schmitt of Comfrey, Minnesota, will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday morning, March 23, 2015, at New Hope Lutheran Church in Comfrey. The church is located at 204 Court Street South.
Pastor Brian Nehring will serve as officiant for the services.
A private burial service will be held at a later date at St. Paul Catholic Cemetery, located in rural Comfrey, will be held at a later date.
Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2015, at Sturm Funeral Home-Comfrey Chapel, located at 101 North Field. A second visitation will be at the church the day of the funeral service from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Julia “Julie” Ann Schmitt passed away on Thursday, March 19, 2015 at her homed in Comfrey surrounded by her family.
Julie was born on March 15, 1958 in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, the daughter of Robert and Barbara (Callanan) Rathman. Julie graduated from Sleepy Eye Public High School in 1976 and Rasmussen Business College in 1987.
She married John A. Schmitt on November 27, 1982 and had lived in Comfrey since 1980. Julie was a secretary/receptionist/nurse at various places, such as the Comfrey Clinic, Springfield Clinic, Sioux Trails Mental Health Center, KNUJ-AM and SAM 107.3, Divine Providence Community Home in Sleepy Eye, Christensen Family Farms, Sleepy Eye Chamber of Commerce and Sleepy Eye Medical Center. Julie loved the various roles she had and viewed them as opportunities to get to know more people, gain more knowledge of her community and network with so many great individuals. Julie especially loved to visit with the guests on the SAM 107.3 radio show.
Julie was a member of the Comfrey First Responders from 1995 to 2013, and served as Captain for many years. She was also part of the Sleepy Eye Ambulance Service. Julie loved to spend time with her grandchildren, garden, bake, go for walks with John, listen to dinner hour polka music and watch the moon and the stars.
Julie is survived by husband, John of Comfrey; daughters and sons-in-law, Angie and Jeremy Pidde of Comfrey and Nicole and Dave Wandberg of Minneapolis, Minnesota; grandchildren, Hailey, Sam and Lucy Pidde and Reid and Blake Wandberg; parents, Robert and Barbara Rathman of Sleepy Eye; siblings, Jeff Rathman of Williams, Minnesota, Mary Blackstad of Mankato, Minnesota and Tom and Sheila Rathman of Otsego Minnesota; sisters-in-law, Susan and Richard Evers of Comfrey, Joy and Gerard Rathman of Comfrey and Julie and Dominic Sellner of Sleepy Eye; brother-in-law and his wife, Lee and Lynn Schmitt of Comfrey and many special aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by brother, Joel Rathman and grandparents,an Church Ed and Amelia Rathman and Paul and Ann Callanan.