Obituary of Heinz Friedrich Schmitz

January 15, 1941 – Duisburg, Germany

February 10, 2023 – Calgary, Alberta

Heinz Friedrich Schmitz was born to his parents Johann and Margarete Schmitz during WWII in Duisburg, Germany. He passed away peacefully at home in his sleep on Friday, February 10, 2023.

Heinz would often tell stories about growing up in Germany during this time. How his mother and father were separated when their family home was bombed and his mother, himself, and his younger sister Margret took shelter in Eastern Germany until the war ended and they could be reunited with his father and his older twin sisters, Sophie and Emmi.

Heinz was a clever and mischievous young boy, negotiating for additional food during times of rations, trying to make pocket money to help his mother, and skipping a year in school having gained top marks and a scholarship where he graduated and became an accountant for Mannesmann Technology.

Around 1970, Heinz boarded a passenger ship to Canada and landing on the East Coast, he navigated his way to Calgary, Alberta, where he worked at the Palliser Hotel. He met his first wife Irene, and had three children: Monique, Alain, and Sabrina. Heinz, then based in Lake Bonaventure, had an entrepreneurial career. First owning Alberta Turf Limited and later, Lifestyle Interiors, a Calgary Realtor, and in the later years, turning back to his original skill as an accountant, working for Certus Developments.

In 1987, Heinz married his second wife Cathey Mitchell and welcomed his two stepchildren Sally and Jimmy into the family. Cathey and Heinz enjoyed a prosperous life together, travelling across Europe and the UK visiting Sabrina and Xenoph in Edinburgh and destinations such as London, Monte Carlo, Chamonix, Paris, Budapest, Munich, Vienna, and the wine regions of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and the German Rhine. “We’ve been there!” was never far from their lips. Back home they continued their love to travel by visiting Heinz’s son Alain in Victoria, British Columbia.

Heinz indulged in reading, sports, news, and worldwide politics, always enquiring about “your thoughts?” on the latest news and events. He enjoyed the theatre, opera, and dining out with many favourites such as the Cattle Baron, Pasquales, The Dutch Canadian Club, and formerly the Inn on Lake Bonavista, where Heinz and Cathey were married and continued to enjoy live music and dancing for many years.

Heinz was a soccer dad, a hockey dad, a baseball dad, and even a “drive you all over for dance class” dad. He was a proud father and grandfather to Tegan, Aurora, Maya, and Zach, always interested in their activities and achievements, which he would share with friends and acquaintances around him (and sometimes anyone who would listen!). Heinz’s door in Midnapore was always open for visits, short stays, and even more recently, a “longer stay” with Monique and Tegan.

Heinz will be remembered as a kind and generous man, a dad, a grandad, and a gentleman.

Besides his loving wife Catherine, Heinz is survived by his two daughters, Monique Rinke of Calgary, AB, Sabrina Larg of Edinburgh, Scotland; one son-in-law, Xenoph Larg of Edinburgh, Scotland; former son-in-law W.Gordon Rinke of Penticton, BC, one son Alain Schmitz of Victoria, BC; four grandchildren, Tegan Rinke of Calgary, AB; Aurora Schmitz of Victoria, BC; Maya and Zachary Larg of Edinburgh, Scotland; one step-son Jim Mitchell (Nam, Hunter and Tao), and one step-daughter Sally Healy (Peter, Jenson).

Heinz is also survived by his two sisters Margret and Emmi of Duisburg, Germany; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Heinz was predeceased by his parents, sister Sophie, and brothers-in-law, Kurt, Werner, and Heinz, of Duisburg, Germany.

He leaves behind his beloved dog Harry Potter, who has been his main companion and best friend for the last ten years.

Rest in Peace x

Heinz was cremated on February 17, 2023, at McInnis & Holloway, Deerfoot South. Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at the Celebration of Heinz’s Life, taking place at The Hideout (Wingate by Wyndham Calgary, 400 Midpark Way SE, Calgary, AB T2X 3S4) on Friday, February 24, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

In living memory of Heinz Schmitz, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab T2X 3J3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.