Obituary of Patricia Ann Schmitz

Patricia Ann Schmitz, 76, died of dementia at home with her family by her side in Lake Havasu City on August 6th, 2021. She was born November 25, 1944, to Eugene and Josephine (Preach) Stelzer, where they lived in Pasadena, California. When Patricia was only eight years old, she lost her mother, who died in child birth having her younger sister. A very hard time in her life. Her father remarried to Patricia's step-mother, Jean Stelzer. She had an older brother, Gene Stelzer, an older sister, Elizabeth Enright (Stelzer), and a younger sister, Katherine (Stirling) Stelzer. Patricia attended Mayfield Catholic High School in Pasadena, where she was the Senior Class President. After graduating, she attended UCLA. At this time, she met her husband-to-be, Roger Schmitz. After graduating from the fire academy, he became a firefighter for Los Angeles City. They were married on September 12, 1965, in Altadena, California. They raised three daughters. In 1972, Roger and Pat, as she was known to all of her family and friends, moved out of Los Angeles to a very small town, called Santa Paula, where they purchased a ten acre ranch with an old home and an orange orchard. Pat was a wife, ranch hand, and most of all, a great mother. She took care of three little girls and a ranch while her husband still commuted to Los Angeles to continue working as a firefighter. She was an incredible cook, she planted gardens, worked on the ranch, volunteered, and even sewed matching dresses for her girls for special occasions. In 1990, Roger and Pat decided to sell the ranch and move on to a different adventure. They purchased a home in Kingman, Arizona. From there, they decided to explore the great state of Arizona and to find a place to build a home. They did just that and found a beautiful lot in Lake Havasu. In 1993, they built their home and started a new life in Arizona. With the summers being too hot, they bought a second home in Soldotna, Alaska, where they lived part time for fifteen years and experienced many great adventures. They eventually said goodbye to Alaska and bought a summer home in Payson, Arizona, where they enjoyed another home and adventures. Patricia is survived by her husband, Roger Schmitz of Lake Havasu, and her daughters, Tracey Hernandez, Lauren Schmitz, and Julie Schmitz. She is deeply missed by all. Arrangements were placed into the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home.