Nicholas “Blackie” Schmitt, 79, of Balltown, passed away Friday, March 1, 2019 at Stonehill Care Center.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 5 at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Sherrill. Fr. Bernie Rott will officiate. Burial will be in Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery. Friends may greet the family from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, March 4, at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 3860 Asbury Rd., Dubuque, where there will be a prayer service at 1:45pm

Nicholas was born January 27, 1940 in Balltown, the son of Clifford and Rosella (Gasper) Schmitt. He married Carol Ann Gansemer on September 10, 1960 at St. Philomena Church, Belmont, WI. She preceded him in death on May 4, 2006.

Nick was employed with Trausch Bakery, Art Pape Transfer, and John Deere Dubuque Works, and went on to continue his career as a truck driver, owning and operating Nick Schmitt Trucking from 1981 until his retirement in 2016. He enjoyed playing cards and feeding the birds. Nick was an avid Nascar fan, especially “awesome Bill from Dawsonville”. Road trips to Louisville, KY to attend tractor pulls with his friends was a 40 year tradition. His family was the love of his life, and he especially enjoyed his grandchildren, asking the little ones “Whatchu doin’?” and going to the boys baseball games.

Nick is survived by his children and grandchildren, Lori (Tom) Dupont, and their children, Stephanie (Matt) Kutsch, Emily (Andy) Kutsch and Matthew (Angela) Dupont, Dan (Amy) Schmitt, and his girls, Chasity (Ben) Hartman, Chantel and Cheyanne Schmitt, Bob (Nancy) Schmitt, and their children, Donald (Lindsey Keller), Nicholas and Josie Schmitt, Nicole (Jim) Breitbach, and their children, Brady (Riley), Belle (Mo), and Becca Breitbach, Lynn (Mark) Kutsch, and their children, Nickolas, Katalina, Dylan, and Aidan Kutsch, and Elina Rossi, of Finland; his great grandchildren, Will, Logan, Sophie, Lila, Molly, Macy, Maggie, Dane, and Carter; his siblings, Dolly Schmerbach, Helen Heiderscheit, Patsy (Gary) Hefel, and Cliff (Becky) Schmitt; his in laws, Mary Rupp, Donita Clendenen, Joyce (Ken) Schmitt, Bob (Bonnie) Gansemer, and Jerry Adams; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Velma (Werner) Bleile; his in laws, Bob Schmerbach, Daniel Heiderscheit, Dorothy (Robert) Schrobilgen, Dale Rupp, Lloyd Clendenen, Ann Adams, and Vince Wernimont; and his father and mother in law, George and Christina Gansemer.

Nick’s family would like to thank the entire staff at Stonehill Care Center for their care and love they showed our father. A special thank you to Aidan, his little puppy, for the extra special happiness, love and laughter that you and grandpa shared. An extra special Thank you to our sister Lynn for taking such great care of him for the last 13 years.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hskfh.com