Edward (Eddie) K. Schmitz 1998-2024 Age 25 As I shed these painful earthly afflictions, I soar on the breath of angels to my heavenly home to live in all eternity with God our heavenly Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Because he lives, I shall live also. March 6, 2024 Eddie unexpectedly passed away. He fell asleep, stopped breathing and his heart stopped. CPR was given and he was resuscitated but the lack of oxygen was too great and he was declared clinically deceased at 2:47 pm. Eddie was a gift from God. He was an exceptional human being filled with kindness, compassion, perception, talent and profound intelligence. To know Eddie, you would agree he was an extraordinary person and one you would be proud to call your friend. Eddie was a scientist, creator, pilot, singer, pianist and poet and so much more. His articulated and eloquent use of the english language would catch you off guard and render you into gut aching laughter. Knowing Eddie, you knew you were blessed. Eddie was fascinated by outer space and flight since he was a small child and when he was in his early teens he took flying lessons and accrued 20+ logged hours with instructors. Lyme disease sidelined him from getting his pilot’s license but he found a way around that by buying and flying his own ultralight “Toothless”. He never felt so at home in any given place other than the skies soaring up and around and over the clouds. Earbuds in, playing his favorite music either Dream Theater or Avenged Sevenfold, he told us never felt as close to God as he did when he flew. Eddie elected to be an organ donor and his decision will give the gift of life to save five people. All eight of his organs will be used as well as his eyes which will give the gift of sight to two people. This gift I was told is VERY rare to utilize everything he had to offer. We are very proud of Eddie for choosing to save others, there is no greater gift he could give.

Eddie is survived by his parents, Kurt and Debbie Schmitz. Brother Robert (Bobby) and Felicia Schmitz. Aunts and Uncles, Mike and Susan Peters, Randall and Susan Schmitz, Eric Schmitz, Valerie Schmitz. Cousins, Jordan Peters, Kara (Ryan) Nusbaum (Cole and Carson), Joel (Brooke) Schmitz (Sophia and Millie), Alex and Joey Schmitz. Eddie is also survived by the love of his life, his one and only, Allison Bucholtz, who made him feel complete. Eddie is preceded in death by his Grandparents, Edward and Lillian Court and Robert and Murial Schmitz, and Uncle Dennis Schmitz. A “Celebration of Life” will be held in the near future and will be posted on his facebook wall. Please bring all photos/videos/stories to share so we may all experience a small fraction of the entirety of whom Eddie was to so many. It was Eddie’s wish that his ashes be sent into space. We are honoring his wish in the first quarter of 2026 where a portion of his ashes will be sent on Celestis Memorial Flights, Voyager’s mission deep into space to remain there for all eternity. (Celestis.com) Eddie was a loving Christian and we take comfort in knowing he is with our Lord and Savior. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. There will never be another as extraordinary as Eddie. We love you Eddie, our Munchie Man. A heartfelt Thank You to the First Responders, Doctors and Nurses in the ICU at Ascension Medical Hospital.

To be pure of heart is to want peace, freedom, and safety for the innocent. To be strong is to be willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish your goals no matter the price. To be both is to not only react to evil with the force necessary, and not an ounce more, but also to be proactive in searching, finding, and burning out the darkness from the world with a righteous flame in order to free the the defenseless innocent from subjugation, oppression, tyranny, and injustice. Those who are pure of heart and strong in mind, body, and soul have a direct obligation to protect those who can not fend for themselves because defenselessness is not synonymous with impotence. Every human being possesses capabilities that align with their innate gifts and talents, which in turn benefits the society in which they live. To be idle in the face of evil is to allow the spectrum of skills and talents to be subjugated at the best and destroyed at the worst. We were all born with raw potential that is honed as we mature, so the pure and strong must protect that growth and allow everyone to benefit from their fellow man flourishing. To do otherwise is to be responsible for the death and destruction caused by an unchecked evil being allowed to exist and fester. The thing about darkness is that a single ember can hold it at bay. All it takes is one ember to ignite the righteous inferno. The pure and the strong are the light in the darkness, the embers in the wind, and the line in the sand across which evil shall never traverse. It's our duty to stand firm and meet the darkness head on for every life we protect resides within every breath, every step, and every beat of our pure hearts.

Written by: Eddie Schmitz 3/3/2024