Clair Theodore Schmitz

Clair Theodore Schmitz, age 98, of Arcadia, IA, passed away on Sunday, May 31, 2026 at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, June 5, 2026 at St. John Catholic Church in Arcadia with Fr. Terry Roder as Celebrant. Music for the Mass will be by the St. John Choir with Sharon Bierl as Organist. Lector for the Mass will be Cody Schmitz. Casket Bearers will be Jeff Schmitz, Braydon Schmitz, Jake Schmitz, Nick Kohorst, Tom Hiler, Cameron Schmitz, and Calvin Hiler. Honorary casket bearers will be Sarah Hiler, Melissa Kohorst, Hannah Schmitz, Hayli Thorpe, Jeffrey Lander, Keri Buren, and Kacy Kamphoff.  A private family burial will be in St. John Cemetery in Arcadia.

Visitation will be held at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll from 5 – 7 P.M. on Thursday, June 4, 2026 where there will be a Rosary at 7 P.M.

There will be no visitation on Friday prior to the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Arcadia Development and Betterment Association and may be left at the funeral home or the church.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Clair’s family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com

Clair was born on July 21, 1927 to Barbara (Schenkelberg) and Theodore (Fritz) Schmitz. He attended St. John Catholic Grade School, and Arcadia Public High School graduating in 1945. He worked as a railroad section hand for a few summers, then began tending bar at his brother, Elmer (Porky’s), place of business as well as selling cars and insurance.

He married Leona Tigges on June 6, 1950 in the Annunciation Church in Coon Rapids, Iowa. The couple made their home in Arcadia and after a few years they started Arcadia Farm Supply which they operated for 35 years. Clair was very proud of his many years of involvement in twelve step recovery. He was always ready to help someone who was trying to overcome his/her addiction. He loved to travel, go on fishing trips, go for long walks and go to the casino once in a while.

He was also involved with the Arcadia Betterment and Development Corp. He was passionate about making Arcadia a thriving community. He often reached out to new Arcadia residents in an effort to make them feel welcomed.

Clair was preceded in death by his wife, Leona, a son, Duane Schmitz, parents, brothers Elmer (Porky)(Eileen), Heubert John (Jack)(Gladys) , Eugene (Butch) and sister Marian Schmitz. Sisters-in-law, Coletta (Bill) Wood, Jeri (Jim) Tigges, Donna (Gerald) Tigges, Rita (Orlie) Knutson, Mary Ann (Gerald) (Red) Gettler, Louise (Dick) Harrison. Brothers-in-law: John Tigges, and Mark Ahmann. Son-in-law: Denny Kamphoff.

Clair is survived by his children: Steve (Bonnie) Schmitz, Peg (Jo Chinburg) Schmitz, Tim Schmitz, Dale (Nancy) Schmitz, Sandy Kamphoff, Mary (Oran) Kohorst, Tom (Ann) Schmitz, Janet (Loren) Krueger; grandchildren Jeff Schmitz (Heather Rivera), Sarah (Tom) Hiler, Keri (Dominic) Buren, Kacy Kamphoff (Jake Cera), Melissa Kohorst (Lucas Weir,) Nick (Allison) Kohorst, Cody (Rachel) Schmitz, Jake (Callie) Schmitz , Hayli (Henry) Thorpe, Hannah (Megan) Schmitz, and Jeffrey Lander. Great-Grandchildren: Braydon, Cameron, and Nolan Schmitz, Sydney, Calvin, James, and Henry Hiler, Jaxon and Corina Weir, Wyatt and McKenna Kohorst, Gabriel, John, Lucy and Henry Schmitz and Evelyn and Harrison Schmitz.

Clair is also survived by: Sister: Jane Ahmann. Sisters-in-law: Meg Tigges. Brother-in-law: Dan (Sandy) Tigges.