Schmitz, Dawn Lanell (Rogers) age 80, of Minneapolis, passed away on May 19, 2023, following a short illness.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on June 1, 2023, at St. Helena Catholic Church, 3204 E. 43rd Street, Minneapolis Minnesota with Fr. Milless as Celebrant. Visitation begins at 9:00 AM and there will be refreshments in the social hall following the service. Interment will occur in a private family ceremony at Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN.

Dawn, the daughter of June and William Rogers, was born unexpectedly early at home on September 12, 1942. Although she struggled with an underdeveloped digestive system, her mother June was determined her daughter would survive.  Dawn was a fighter from the beginning and would take on her mother's strength of character which would define her life.

Siblings were added to the family, all brothers.  First was William in the fall of 1943.  Fredrick followed in the spring of 1946.  Ten years later, to the day, the youngest of the Rogers children, David was born.  While Dawn loved her brothers dearly, she longed for a sister.  This longing would carry her into adulthood, laying the foundation for the configuration of her own family.  From her childhood, she clung to the idea that every boy should have a brother and every girl should have a sister.

Dawn attended Madison Elementary School, a short distance from her home. Headstrong from a young age, she defied a teacher's refusal to use the restroom by walking home to use the bathroom at home. When the teacher later took her shoes to prevent her from leaving again, her father accompanied her back to school and had pointed words with the principal. Dawn's mother June was a strong and independent woman. It is little wonder Dawn was raised to be the same.

Dawn, the daughter of retired performers, was afforded the opportunity to develop her talents.  She took tap and ballet at the Adair Dance Studios from Ruth Bakken throughout her childhood and youth.  Her competitive spirit was channeled towards water ballet where she both competed and performed.  

During her early teens, her family moved to the Longfellow neighborhood near Minnehaha Falls. It was here in 1956 when her brother David was born.  Her father William tragically died the following year during her freshman year in high school, an event that profoundly affected her. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1961 and often spoke fondly of her time in school - the poodle skirts, saddle shoes, dances, and friends she made during high school. She participated in many school events and made many cherished, life-long friends.

After school, she began working at Honeywell with her mother. On a day June was out, Francis approached Dawn. After some time dating, Francis proposed to Dawn. They were married on July 6, 1963, at St. Helena Catholic Church.

They lived for a short time in Prior Lake, MN, where they quickly welcomed children Michael, Patricia, and Francis. On May 19, 1968, her daughter Karen was born but tragically passed away all too soon.  

After moving their growing family to South Minneapolis, they welcomed Cathleen, and the family was complete. All the children attended St. Helena School down the street where Dawn often volunteered many hours helping in the classroom and supervising recess.

Dawn loved and cherished her family. She spent hours with her children camping, on picnics, as a Brownie Leader, Girl Scout Leader, and Cub Scout Leader, and attending school activities and sporting events. The family enjoyed weekly trips to Francis' boyhood farm to spend time with Francis' extended family and enjoyed picnics, swimming, spending time exploring the farm, and waterskiing on Prior Lake with extended family. On warm summer days, she would take the children swimming at wading pools or the beaches at Nokomis or Hiawatha. One week each summer was set aside for a family road trip, including trips to Yellowstone, Niagara Falls, Ohio, and others. Every Memorial Day weekend was spent camping on the family's favorite island in the middle of the St. Croix River. She enjoyed cooking, baking, gardening, sewing, playing cards, and bingo. She would always be there cheering support for her children (and later her grandchildren) at their many sporting events, recitals, plays, and other events. She remained an enthusiastic traveler, later enjoying cruises in Mexico and Canada with her daughters.

Between the hours spent raising a busy family, Dawn earned her cosmetology license and worked several years as a beautician. Dawn also found time to work in a variety of careers, including, at a catering service, at Many Point Scout Camp, at Farmers Insurance, and at the Veterans Administration, among others.

Dawn's faith was important to her as a long-time member of St. Helena Catholic Church. She participated in the Film Study Group and the Benevolence Society. She also lent her voice to the Mother Singers (which later became the Tri-Tones) to raise money to send diabetic children to summer camp.

As the years passed and her children married, she devoted the same energy to welcoming and treasuring her grandchildren. Her first three grandsons were born within three months of each other, and the rest soon followed. As she did with her children, she attended their many activities. She went to countless dance and music recitals, choir concerts, ice skating shows, basketball, football, and hockey games, as well as theatrical performances. Each grandchild brought her a renewed joy. She recently welcomed her great-grandchild, Owen (Gabriel and Angela), with another on the way (Benjamin and Angel) any day.

She also used these years to draw closer to her mother, always spending quality time together, although not always seeing eye to eye. Her mother was always her best friend.  It was in June of 2004 when her mother passed as a result of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.  It was sudden, however, Dawn was there at her side, as her mother slipped away.

Dawn and her husband Francis spent their summers traveling in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  They visited county fairs throughout the state looking for the perfect corn dog zipping around on the custom build scooter for two.  Dawn and Francis were devoted to one another.

Dawn was preceded in death by her parents, William and June Rogers, infant daughter Karen, nephew Steven John Rogers, and sister-in-law, Barb Rogers. She is survived by her husband of nearly 60 years, Francis Schmitz, son Michael (Lisa) Schmitz of Hastings, daughter Patricia (Michael) Sullivan of Eden Prairie, son Francis (Lora) Schmitz of Woodbury, and daughter Cathleen (Patrick) Rohland of Redwood Falls. She is also survived by her eleven grandchildren: John Schmitz of Hastings, Rose Schmitz of Wabaso, Matthew Schmitz of Hastings, Nicolas (Tricia Buerke) Sullivan of Azusa California, Brooke Schmitz of Woodbury, Rachel Schmitz of Woodbury, Gabriel (Angela) Rohland of Cortland, Nebraska, Benjamin (Angel) Rohland of Omaha, Nebraska, Anna (Niklas de Boer) Rohland of Hamburg Germany, and step-grandchild Patricia (Blaine) Eischied of Ouray, Colorado, and Tanya Sullivan of Orlando, Flordia. She also has a great-grandson Owen Rohland, another to be born in June, and step great-grandson Calvin Sullivan. Dawn is also survived by brothers Frederick (Cindy) Rogers of Orlando Florida, William Rogers of Ham Lake, and David (Patty) Rogers of Brooklyn Park. Six nephews, Gary Schmitz of Shakopee, Shay Logan of Richmond, Texas, Jerry Schmitz, Christopher Schmitz, Will Rogers of Ham Lake, and Eric Rogers of Madison, Wisconsin, and five nieces Michelle Logan of Livermore, California, Bridget (Jesse) Hillyard of Ham Lake, Lisa Rogers of Goodview, Chrisandra Karstetter of Jacksonville, Flordia, and Malissa Finell of Albuquerque, New Mexico, as well as fourteen great-nephews and great-nieces.

She will be cherished, missed, and remembered by many other extended relatives and family friends.  

Published on May 28, 2023