Pat Schmitz

Patricia Ruth “Pat” Schmitz was born on May 4, 1940 in Minnetonka, Minnesota, to Jack Henry and Marie Margaret (née Mingo) McKenzie. She graduated from Minnetonka High School in 1958 and moved to Colorado in 1960, touring the state performing pop music on her accordion. She enjoyed decades as an acclaimed dog handler and breeder and was the owner and operator of VanDenBerg Training Kennels in Lafayette. She raised and finished many champion dogs, specializing in German Shepherds and Papillons. She was a founding member of Flatirons Kennel Club and served as its Show Chairman for more than 50 AKC dog shows.

Pat was preceded in death by her husband Bruce Casper Schmitz, her parents, her sister Diane, her brother Scott, her sister-in-law Judy and her precious niece Jackie.

She is survived by her brother Mark McKenzie (Minnetonka), her daughter Erin Aitken (Longmont), son Christopher (Joanna) Schmitz (Longmont), granddaughters Kelli (Clayton) Aitken-Thompson, Aleasha “Ali” (fiancé David) Aitken, Alexis Schmitz and grandsons Sean-Patrick and Trajan Schmitz; and also by her beloved German Shepherd, Spirit.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Longmont at 10 am on Thursday, January 5, 2023. Interment will be held at Ft. Logan National Cemetery.