Alvin "Schmitty" A. Schmitz, age 85, of Fond du Lac, formerly of rural Malone area, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Friday, December 22, 2017, at the Hospice Home of Hope in Fond du Lac following a brief battle with cancer. He was born March 5, 1932, to Mathias & Ottilia (Schneider) Schmitz. On November 27, 1954, he married Donna Mae Merten at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Mount Calvary, WI. They lived most of their married life in the Malone area until moving to Fond du Lac in November of 2013. Alvin served in the United States Army from 1954 until 1956. He worked at Tecumseh Engine Products in New Holstein for 36 years. Alvin was a member of St. Isidore Parish-Holy Cross Church in Mount Calvary and the Mount Calvary American Legion Abler-Engel Post 454. Alvin enjoyed being with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also enjoyed golfing with his buddies and visiting the casino. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Donna; his seven children, Sandy (Ron) Thuermer of Malone, Michele "Micky" Keifenheim of Fond du Lac, Nancy (Mike) Petrie of Mount Calvary, Mark "Sparky" (Barb) Schmitz of Fond du Lac, Kevin (Brenda) Schmitz of Malone, Shelly (Scott) Schrage of Malone, and Gary (Stephanie) Schmitz of Mesa, AZ; 18 grandchildren, Kris (Matt) Giese, Brian (Danielle) Thuermer, Sara and Kelly Thuermer (friend, Jake Bink), Brooke (John) Kraus, Amber Keifenheim, Adam (Heidi) Keifenheim, Nicole (Matt) Schneider, Jason (Stefanie) Petrie, Cody, Casey and Cory Bowen, Meghan and Mason Schmitz, Keifer and Makenzie Schrage, Ashton and Addison Schmitz; 16 great-grandchildren; his sister, Bernetta "Nettie" Pauly of Mount Calvary; sisters-in-law, Helen Schmitz of Mount Calvary, Mae Schmitz of Fond du Lac, and Evangeline Fritz of Fond du Lac; and a brother-in-law, Alex (Fran) Merten of Oshkosh. He is further survived by many nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends. Preceding him in death were his parents, Mathias & Ottilia Schmitz; a son-in-law, Mark Keifenheim; three sisters, Marcella "Sally" (Paul) Wagner, Elizabeth "Elsie" (Vernon "Bud") Sippel, and Virginia (Donald) Rahmer; nine brothers, Alex (Viola) Schmitz, Alfred "Fritz" (Marion) Schmitz, Arnold (Marjorie) Schmitz, Ambrose "Sam" Schmitz, Andrew (Zona) Schmitz, Alphonse (Rosie) Schmitz, Anthony "Tony" Schmitz and two infants, Albin and Arlyn; a brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Sylvester "Sonny" Pauly, Lester Merten, Leroy Merten, Orlena (Albert) Burg, Delbert Merten, Vernon Merten, Willard Merten, Harold Merten, Gladys (Leo) Birschbach, Zelda (Claude) Casper, Muriel Merten, Albin Merten, Glendola Merten, and Ken Fritz. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, December 27, 2017, at St. Isidore Parish-Holy Cross Church, 308 S. County Road W, Mount Calvary, Wisconsin 53057. Rev. Gary Wegner, OFM Cap will officiate. Alvin will be laid to rest in the Holy Cross Cemetery in spring. Visitation: Family and friends may visit with the family at the church on Wednesday, December 27th from 2:00 PM until 6:00 PM. Military Rites conducted by the Mount Calvary American Legion Post 454 and State Military Honors will take place following the Mass. For additional information, please contact the Sippel Funeral Home in St. Cloud (920) 999-2291 or visit www.sippelfuneralhome.net.