Dennis I. Schmitt, 68, of Dubuque, Iowa passed away on September 30th, 2026, at the UW Hospital in Madison after a brief battle with cancer surrounded by his loving family.

Visitation will be Friday, October 9th, 2026, 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Rd. Additional visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 10th at the funeral home. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Dianne Grace officiating. It was a very rare occasion to see Dennis without his flannel shirt or a hat on. In honor of Dennis please wear your flannel shirt or a hat. Private burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Dennis was born on April 26th, 1958, in Dubuque, Iowa, the son of Melvin and Marion (Breitbach) Schmitt. He was raised on his family’s dairy farm where he learned the value of a good day’s work. He graduated from Wahlert High School in 1976. He worked for Swiss Valley, now Prairie Farms until his retirement in 2020.

On July 26th, 1975, he met Karen Sendt at a dance at the fairgrounds. They became high school sweethearts and were married on April 29th, 1978, at St. Mary’s Church in East Dubuque. Together they raised a beautiful family.

The Schmitt’s were known for unfortunate vacation occurrences. Things like stolen vehicles, emergency appendectomy for Joe, trips to the emergency room & cancelled flights. But he kept on going! Those things earned him the nickname “Griswold.”

Fishing was always at the top of his vacation list. Whether it was with his kids & grandkids, Dan & Diane or Scott and Pam, he’d worry for weeks about having the poles & tackle boxes ready for the inevitable snag.

There were also trips to Alaska, Hawaii, New York, Colorado & Niagara Falls and the Smoky Mts. He always managed a few pranks along the way. Hiding around corners or in beds just for a scare. He loved a good scare.

Dennis was always willing to lend a helping hand and truly enjoyed taking care of others. Known as a “Mr. Fix-It,” there wasn’t much he couldn’t repair, and he was always happy to put his skills to good use for family and friends. Whether he was fixing something around the house, catching a mouse, or tending to his yard, Dennis took great pride in a job well done especially his yard. He enjoyed the simple things in life, especially relaxing on the patio with a cold beer while watching a good Western. Dennis also loved to grill and was well known for sharing homemade baked goods with family and friends—a special way he showed just how much he cared for the people around him.

Dennis is survived by his wife Karen; their children Kristy (Jared) Heim, Andy (Jessica) Schmitt, and Val (Ben) Ginter all of Dubuque. Seven grandchildren: William Wemett, Joseph Wemett, Annica Schmitt, Ambrie Schmitt, James Heim, Mary Heim and Tate Ginter. Siblings: Mary Lou Thornburg of Independence; and Dan (Ann) Schmitt, of Clear Lake. Sisters and Brothers-in-law: Patty (Guy) DeVries and Laura (Tim) Majerus, both of East Dubuque, IL, Donny (Jill) Sendt of Dubuque, and Dean Sendt, of East Dubuque, IL; along with his faithful companion, his dog Sharon, the beagle. .

Dennis was preceded by his parents, his in-laws Darrell and Marilyn Sendt; and a brother-in-law Albert “Albie” Sendt

In lieu of flowers a Dennis Schmitt memorial fund will be established.

The family wishes to thank the UW Health Care of Madison for their honestly and compassionate care they showed to Dennis and his family.