Mary Ann Schmitz, 83, of Seneca, Kansas died Friday, August 5, 2016 at Life Care Center of Seneca.

Mary Ann was born on July 3, 1933, on a farm southeast of Kelly, Kansas the daughter of Henry and Josephine Sextro Boeckman. She graduated from St. Bede’s Grade School and from Kelly High School in 1951. Mary Ann attended Mary Mount College Nursing program for one year.

Mary Ann married Ambrose L. Schmitz on February 14, 1953 at St. Bede’s Catholic Church in Kelly. In 1953, the couple moved to the farm north of St. Benedict, Kansas, where they farmed and raised their family.  They built a new home in Seneca the fall of 2011. Ambrose and Mary Ann celebrated 59 years of marriage, before Ambrose death on May 28, 2012.

Mary Ann was a hard working woman; she milked cows from 1953 to 1991. She also raised chickens and, grew a huge garden to feed her family. After her cows were sold, she went to work for Country View Estates, later known as Life Care Center, for 17 years in the laundry department. She loved to cook, bake, bake bread and was known for her frosting covered sugar cookies and homemade cinnamon rolls. Mary Ann received the recognition from the Topeka Capital Journal as cook of the week December of 2000. She loved to visit the casino, she enjoyed playing cards. Mary Ann’s hands were never idle; her hands were always busy with needle work, quilting, embroidery and other fancy work. Mary Ann was devoted to the Catholic faith; taking time to pray the rosary in between all of her other activities.

For 32 years of Mary Ann’s life, she was devoted to taking care of her son, Leonard, which was injured in a farming accident that left him paralyzed.
Mary Ann was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, St. Ann’s Altar Society. She volunteered at the Sts. Peter and Paul Mission in Seneca, taught CCD at St. Mary’s Church, was on the Clear Creek Township Election Board, a past president of the St. Ann’s Altar Sodality at St. Mary’s Church and was on a bowling league.

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Leonard Schmitz on December 16, 2013; and a granddaughter, Emily Dawn Tangeman; her brothers, Alvin, Raymond,  Lawrence, Clarence Boeckman; and sisters, Augusta Hutfles, Clara Segenhagen, Frances Wichman, Dorothy Henry, Rosalia Deters, and  Arlene Schmitz.

Survivors are her daughters, Jody and (Stephen) Niehues of Topeka, Grace and (Alan) Knott of Omaha, NE, Monica and (Len)  Marousek of  Omaha, NE, Armella and (Stephan) Tangeman of Olathe and Mary Ellen (Steve) Bowhay of Dubios, NE; eleven grandchildren, Brad (Jamie) Niehues, Aaron Niehues, Ashley Knott, Zachary Knott, Jake (Andrea) Marousek, Sammi  Marousek , Alex (Lindy) Tangeman, Joey Tangeman, Dustin (Danielle) Holthaus, Corey (Fiancé  Rose Wilder) Holthaus and Sarah Conroy; and five great-grandchildren, Madison, Grant and Morgan Niehues, Vivianne  Marousek and Cole Daniel Holthaus.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at 10:30 AM at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery.  Rosaries will be prayed on Monday at 2 & 7 PM at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.