James Lawrence Schmit

James Lawrence Schmit, age 81, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester, Saint Marys Campus. James was born April 2, 1944, to Lawrence and Dorothy (Bisbee) Schmit in Austin. He graduated in 1962 from Rose Creek High School. In 1964, James enlisted into the United States Navy where he served until his honorable discharge in 1968. After his time in the military, James worked in Hastings, Minnesota, where he met the love of his life, Florence Wiste. The couple married on May 9, 1970, in Mabel, Minnesota, and together raised two sons. Following their marriage, James and Florence moved to Rose Creek, where James dedicated himself to farming until the 1980s. He then began a successful 25-year career with Hormel. James was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Rose Creek, Minnesota. He loved watching sports, particularly football and baseball, and enjoyed playing softball in his younger years. James also found joy in gardening and doing crossword puzzles.

Survivors include his sons, Jamey (Mindy) Schmit of Austin, Minnesota and Daryn (Stacy Reuter) Schmit of Austin, Minnesota; grandchildren, Logan (Lexi), Lawson, and Brady; great-grandchildren, Joslee and Reggie; brothers, Jack (Pam) Schmit of Austin, Minnesota and Mark (Margaret) Schmit of Rose Creek, Minnesota; sisters, Janice Bartley of Louisiana and Carolyn Tindal of Austin, Minnesota; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Craig Lerum of Austin, Minnesota, Larry Rhine of Colorado, Truman Wiste of Spring Grove, Minnesota, Larry (Sharon) Wiste of Spring Grove, Minnesota, Helen (Darrel) Mann of Sheridan, Wyoming, and Carol Melver of Buffalo, Wyoming. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Dorothy Schmit; wife, Florence in 2018; sisters, Joyce Lerum and JoAnn Rhine; niece, Sherry Simone; and brothers-in-law, David Bartley, Cliff Tindal, and Merlin Melver.

A funeral service for James will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 11, 2025, at Worlein-Hoff Funeral Home in Austin. The visitation will take place from 12:30-2:00 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will be in St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery, Rose Creek, Minnesota. Worlein-Hoff Funeral Homes of Austin are assisting the family with arrangements.