Joseph "Smokey Joe" Schmitz

Joseph “Smokey Joe” Schmitz, 94, of Kansas City Kansas, passed away on Friday, March 31, 2017, at home, surrounded by family. Funeral Mass will be 10:00 A.M. Thursday, April 6th at All Saints Catholic Church (St. Joseph – St. Benedict) in Kansas City, Kansas. Interment with Army Honors will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday at the church, where the Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Bishop Ward High School or All Saints Parish.

Smokey Joe was born, July 15, 1922 in Kansas City, Kansas to Joseph and Ellen Schmitz. He attended grade school at St Benedicts Catholic School and then attended Bishop Ward High School. He continued his education at Kansas City Kansas Junior College, but was called to service in the Army during WWII before he could finish. After the war, he returned home to coach for the CYO. He coached football, basketball, volleyball and track, and served as athletic director at St. Benedict and All Saints School for 35 years from 1948 to 1984, although he did take some time off to serve in the Korean War. He received the Les Milgram Award 1986 for the betterment of amateur and youth sports. In addition to coaching boys and girls teams, he also managed women’s basketball and softball teams, helping to promote female athletics.

Smokey worked 40 years as a Railroad Yard Clerk for the Frisco and Burlington Northern Railroad, before retiring in 1985. After his retirement, he became an Assistant Funeral Director for the Dignity Memorial Group of Funeral Homes, including Butler Funeral Home, Fulton-Nickel Funeral Home and Chapel Hill-Butler Funeral Home, which he did for 14 years, while also working as a Driver for Acme Livery Service. He served on the All Saints school board, the CYO Board of Directors, CYO advisory Board, Social Services Board of Catholic Charities, as well as Vice President of the Frisco Burlington Rail Road Retirees Club. He was the Campaign Manager for the Joan Finney’s’ Governor Campaign in Wyandotte County and Assistant Campaign Manager for Newell George. He was active in other Wyandotte County political campaigns as well and ran for representative. Joseph was a member of the Polish American Political Club, the American Legion #188 and the VFW Strawberry Hill Post. He was also a member of the Forty and Eight Veterans Organization and a 75-year member of Catholic Order of Foresters, and he was a lifelong member St. Joseph-St. Benedict Church.

Smokey Joe was preceded in death by his father Joseph M. Schmitz and mother Ellen R. Schmitz, two brothers, Phillip Schmitz, and Eugene Schmitz., and son-in-law, Dan Crabtree.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Joann M. Schmitz, along with 4 children, MaryJo (Loun) Crabtree of Osawatomie, Kansas and her five children, Phyllis Schmitz and spouse Eric Engeron of Houma Louisiana, and their five children, David Schmitz and spouse Jennifer of Kansas City, and their four children, and Helen (Schmitz) Johnson and spouse Kent Johnson, of Kansas City, Kansas, and their son. A total of 20 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to Carol Hartman, and all of the other Caregivers of Kansas City Hospice.

Fond Memories and Condolences may be left at www.chapelhill-butler.com, as service arrangements are under the direction of Chapel Hill-Butler Funeral Home, 701 North 94th Street in Kansas City, Kansas (913)334-3366.