Annette Marian Schmitz

            It is with great sadness that our family announces the passing of our wife, mother & grammie. Annette was born in Humboldt, SK on November 30, 1953. She was the 8th of 11 children born to Josephine (Haag) and Anthony Steffen.

            She grew up on the farm near Muenster, SK until she was 8. The family then moved to Humboldt, SK, where she attained her grade 12 education.  After graduation, she worked at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Humboldt for several years. On March 4, 1974 she married Ken Schmitz. They took residence in Saskatoon in a basement suite at Luther Place.

            Annette took a job as a casual employee at the Sears store in Midtown Plaza. On March 4, 1976, Ken and Annette welcomed their first son, Jody.   Annette continued working at Sears and on January 17, 1979 Shaun was born. On June 11, 1981 Ryan was born, just making the bus to Russell, MB where Ken took a new job and moved their family on July 1, 1981.

            In the years that followed, Annette joyfully looked after her three sons, and started a home daycare. She then worked at Lots-A-Tots and eventually went on to become the supervisor at the hospital kitchen in Russell.

            During this time, with the help of her family, she also looked after the kitchen in the skating rink for 12 years. Along with working and raising her  family, Annette enjoyed cooking for family and friends, gardening, camping, fishing and travelling. She’d always say, “I never dreamed that I would be here.”

            On November 18, 2003, the next level of joy in her life started with the birth of her first grandson and continued on as she welcomed each of her 7 grandchildren. Her greatest joy was having everyone at home for Christmas and other holidays and cooking for them.

            Annette retired on November 30 at the age of 60. She enjoyed her retirement, spending more time with family camping, fishing and travelling. Family and friends were a huge part of her life.

            Annette was predeceased by her parents Josephine and Tony, brother-in-laws Clem Thiemann (1996), Murray Stelzer (2017), Glen Karwacki (2021), sister-in-law Debbie Steffen (2017); father-in-law Edward Folk (2012) and mother-in-law Delores Folk (2020).

            Surviving are her husband Ken, children Jody (Stacey) Brayden & Nicole, Shaun (Crystal) Ashlyn, Davin & Embree and Ryan (Mallory) Bailey & Hudsyn; her siblings Delores Thiemann (John Schenn) of Humboldt, SK;  Richard Steffen of Allan SK; Marcella (Bill) Williams of Saskatoon, SK; Gloria (Al) Hunley of Leduc, AB; Audrey Stelzer of Humboldt, SK; Rita Kosokowsky of Saskatoon, SK; Tom (Suz) Steffen of Spruce Grove, AB; Leyone (Lynn) Kosokowsky of Saskatoon, SK;  Dennis (Arlene) Steffen of Saskatoon, SK; and Colleen (Henry) Zacharius of Saskatoon, SK; sister and brother-in-law Sherry & Mike Comte of Regina, SK as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

May she rest in peace in the arms of the one who gifted us with her.