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Wayne J. Schmitz, age 82, of Elgin, ND, passed away on Sunday, November 3, 2024 at the Marian Manor Nursing Home in Glen Ullin, ND.

Services for Wayne Schmitz, 82, Elgin, will be held at 10:00am MST Tuesday at St. John's Catholic Church, New Leipzig, with Father Chris Kadrmas officiating.  Burial will be held at the North Dakota Veteran's Cemetery south of Mandan at 2:00pm MST (3pm CST) following the services.

Visitation will be held at Evenson-Jensen Funeral Home in Elgin on Monday from 2pm to 5pm MST and will continue from 6pm to 7pm at St. John's Catholic Church in New Leipzig with vigil & rosary to follow.

Wayne James Schmitz was born August 8, 1942, in Elgin to Raymond and Patricia (Gaugler) Schmitz, the eldest of seven siblings.  He was raised in Pretty Rock Township south of Elgin and attended Pretty Rock School #2 through the 8th grade, then graduated from Elgin High School in 1960.  During his youth he participated in baseball, football & Golden Gloves boxing.  After high school he attended Dickinson State Teachers College for a brief period and worked for area farmers as well as on his own and with his father's farm & ranch operation.  In early 1968 Wayne entered service into the United States Navy where he became a USN Seabee.  During his time as a Seabee, he spent two years, two months, and two days in Foreign Service between Vietnam and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  During his time in country during the Vietnam War, his Battalion was serving next to the 1st Marine Division on the front lines near Da Nang clearing jungle, building roads, bridges, airstrips & other infrastructure.  Wayne finished his active duty in Bainbridge, MD and returned home after his 4 years of service.

Wayne continued his farming & ranching career after his return.  He was united in marriage to Roberta Stroh on September 28, 1973. Together they farmed, ranched and began raising their family of three children near the Cedar River in Howe Township in southern Grant County.  Wayne also worked in construction with his cousin Chuck Goeres during this period.  In the mid 1980's during the farm crisis, Wayne moved on to begin working for the City of Elgin Maintenance Department and began his law enforcement career as a city police office for the City of Elgin as well.  After a few years, Wayne moved on in his career to the City of Center where he became the long-time Chief of Police for the community and in a dual role as a deputy for the Oliver County Sheriff's Department.  Wayne concluded his service to the Center & Oliver County communities with his retirement on September 1, 2012.

After retiring, Wayne & Roberta returned to his hometown of Elgin where he resided until March 2024. After years of health issues Wayne began his residence in the caring hands of the staff at Marion Manor Healthcare Center in Glen Ullin in March. Though he was in failing health, he kept high spirits and enjoyed his numerous pinocle games with fellow residents, weekly mass with Father Gary Benz and his many visitors that stopped in to see him.  He spoke fondly about many of the staff of Marion Manor, too many to name.

Wayne was an avid historian and storyteller.  Many stories you didn't know whether were true or if he was pulling your leg.  Many times, the stories you thought he made up actually turned out to be true.  His knowledge of Grant County and North Dakota in general was unmatched.  He knew the history and lineage of much of the land in Pretty Rock & Howe Townships and beyond, from the time of the area being homesteaded. He felt small rural cemeteries told a story of the people that settled the area, where they came from, and where they ended up.  He had visited every rural cemetery in the county and many in neighboring counties as well.  He also enjoyed being outdoors hunting & fishing and was an avid baseball and football fan, cheering on his Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings and NDSU Bison to name a few.

Wayne passed from this life on November 3, 2024, at Marion Manor in Glen Ullin.  Keeping him in their fondest memories are his wife, Roberta; two sons Sheldon (Cody), Lincoln, Shawn (Heather), Dickinson; daughter Tara, Bismarck; granddaughters Hannah & Brittney Schmitz, Everett, WA; grandsons Jaden & Brennan Schmitz, Dickinson; step-granddaughters Abigail Watson, Bismarck and FayeAnn & McKenna Remboldt, Lincoln; three sisters Karen (Richard) Witkowski, Elgin, LeAnn (Brad) Dettmann, Spokane, WA and Holli Alladin, Cannon Falls, MN; two brothers Gene (Sharon), Culbertson, MT and Tracy (SuAnn), Elgin; sister-in-law Sandy(Marvin) Schmitz, Bismarck, as well as numerous brothers & sisters-in-law and nieces & nephews.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Dennis; one niece Heather Denboer; father & mother-in-law Anton & Leona Stroh & son-in-law Bob Watson.

Family and friends are encouraged to sign the online guestbook.