Obituary of Mark M. Schmuttenmaer

Mark M. Schmuttenmaer, 68, of Halifax, Massachusetts, received his wings on Saturday, December 8, 2018. Mark was born on June 17, 1950 in Chicago, Illinois. Mark embodied hope, strength, and courage throughout his entire life, but most especially in his nearly year-long battle with esophageal cancer. The grit and determination with which he endured treatment were both an inspiration and testament to his character.

Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife, Sheila (Morrissey) Schmuttenmaer; adoring children, Katelyn (Ryan) Gabriel and Matthew Schmuttenmaer; loving siblings, Alan (Kathy) Schmuttenmaer, Paul (Jayne) Schmuttenmaer, John (Mary Kay) Schmuttenmaer, Mary Schmuttenmaer, and Remi Schmuttenmaer. Mark will also be fondly remembered by extended family and friends. Mark was predeceased by his parents, Norbert and Annabell (Lungren) Schmuttenmaer, and infant sister, Karen Schmuttenmaer.

First and foremost, Mark was a devoted and proud family man. He will be remembered for his enduring work ethic, moral compass, and sense of humor. He was patient and kind and always put others first. Outside of work, he could be found along the sidelines of the basketball and tennis court or soccer field, either coaching Kate and Matt’s sports teams or cheering loyally from the stands. He was always their number one fan.

He had a distinguished career working for the Massachusetts Disability Determination Service (DDS), from which he retired in 2012. Throughout his 35 years with DDS, he was recognized for his leadership, technical excellence, and extensive program knowledge. His hard work and dedication were extremely valued and had a profound impact.

Passionate about exploring family history, he spent decades tracing and researching his family roots. Long before the wealth of genealogical resources now available online existed, Mark’s favorite pastime was paying a visit to the national archives and scrolling through rolls of microfilm. He also enjoyed sharing his research knowledge with others interested in exploring their own history.

In addition to digging through family records, Mark also took an interest in outdoor digging - gardening and meticulously manicuring backyard flora in his retirement. He got his creative talent from his mother and was an incredibly gifted artist. Be it wood, clay, or paint, Mark always had a creative vision. He even went so far as to paint an entire basement wall plaid - by hand. He especially enjoyed creating personalized handmade keepsakes for loved ones, which they will treasure always.

Retirement also gave him the freedom to stay up late watching the end of many a Chicago Bears football game. Mark remained a faithful fan of Chicago sports teams all his life!

Family and friends are invited to join in a Celebration of Life Mass at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Hanson, Massachusetts on Saturday, December 29 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Missionary Society of St. Columban.

St. Columban’s House, 65 Ferry Rd, PO Box 65, Bristol, RI, 02809-0065 http://www.columban.org/donate