Celine Schmitz

Celine Stastny McCarville Schmitz, age 85, died on Thursday, March 22, 2018, at Gracewood Senior Living in St. Paul, MN. She was born April 21, 1932 in Fennimore. She grew up on the family farm on Castle Rock. She graduated from Boscobel HS in 1949. In 1950 she married Joe McCarville of Lancaster. Celine and Joe loved camping and spent summer week ends at Lynn Hollow on the Mississippi River. Celine was widowed upon Joe’s death in March 1972. In 1979 Celine married Maynard Schmitz. They enjoyed many fun times traveling, spending time with family, and playing cards together. She was widowed a 2nd time upon Maynard’s death in November 1998.

Celine worked as a bookkeeper for many years. Upon “retirement” she took up new careers. She became a CNA and spent many years giving care, kindness, and respect to nursing home residents. She also worked for Tri-State tours, booking bus trips. Her favorite trips were to Nashville, but she enjoyed all of her travels and the friends she made.

Celine was an amazing seamstress. Whether she was creating garments or home décor her work was flawless. She also very much enjoyed collecting and making dolls.
Her first dolls were Cabbage Patch. She then moved on to ceramic dolls, eventually having her own kiln to make them. As a wedding gift, each of grandchildren received a hand-crafted bridal couple – dressed in the exact design of the bride’s dress and groom’s tux… sewn by Celine.

She is survived by sister Loretta Freiling of Madison; sons David (Sue) McCarville of Hopkins, MN and Dennis (Pam) McCarville of Wisconsin Rapids and the “daughter” she with whom she was gifted… Chris Heiring (Gary) Stelpflug of Lancaster; Grandchildren: Jason (Katie) McCarville, Carrie McCarville (Nick) Nelson, Brett McCarville, Logan McCarville, Ben (Alissa) Stelpflug, Andrea (Paul) Judy, Danielle (Will) Johnson, & Jeff Stelpflug. Great Grandchildren Dylan, Tyler, Gavin, Logan, Sean, Grace, Harry, Theo & Eloise; many McCarville & Stastny nieces and nephews, and members of the Maynard Schmitz family.

Celine was preceded in death by husbands Joe McCarville & Maynard Schmitz; her parents Anna & Theodore Stastny, sisters Blanche Stastny and Mary (Stastny) Perrin and brothers Joe & John Stastny and by Joey Stelpflug.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 6, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Clement Catholic Church in Lancaster with Reverend William Vernon officiating. Burial will be in St. Clement Cemetery, Lancaster. Family and friends may call on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at the church. Martin Schwartz Funeral Home & Crematory in Lancaster is assisting the family.

While Celine spent her last few years in the Minneapolis area, her heart and home were always Lancaster.