Walter C. Schmitt, Jr

August 12, 1946 – July 29, 2023

Walter “Wally” C Schmitt, Jr, 76, of Fox Point, Wisconsin, passed away in his home on July 29, 2023. He was born in Milwaukee, WI, to Walter and Helen (Fitzgerald) Schmitt on August 12, 1946. He grew up in West Allis, WI and St. Paul, MN with his sister and three brothers.

He entered the Christian Brothers at the age of 15 where he assumed the name of Brother Eric. He finished high school and attended Christian Brother’s College in Memphis, TN, where he studied Mathematics, Civil Engineering, Philosophy and Theology.

After college, Walter chose missionary work in Guatemala where he used his engineering and mechanic skills to train banana and tobacco farmers in successful planting operations. Walter loved his years in Guatemala where he could help people and run big machines. Walter returned to Wisconsin in 1978 as a newlywed and a father.

After returning to the U.S. Walter worked for Signicast Corp in Brown Deer, WI and for the downtown Milwaukee branch of the U. S. Postal Service where he was in charge of maintaining the mail sorting equipment. Walter enjoyed freelance videography and video production for national ballroom dance competitions. His especially enjoyed assisting his brother Jim on video shoots for Children’s Hospital events.

Walter loved working outdoors, tinkering with electronics, videography, photography and bird watching. He owned dozens of cameras and enjoyed photographing wildlife. His hobbies also included Amateur Radio (Ham radio), building computers, playing the bass guitar & harmonica, and reading. Walter also made a habit of attending the Experimental Aircraft Association Airshow in Oshkosh, WI every year.

He was a devoted son, father, stepfather and brother who would go out of his way to help others. In 1986 while on a routine Sunday fishing trip, he saved two children from drowning in the Milwaukee River. Walter donated his stem cells when his youngest brother needed them as a last chance in treatment. Both experiences affected him; he always wished he could have done more. His family greatly appreciated his steadfast devotion to his parents at their home in Brown Deer; he was their maintenance man and almost daily visitor for lunch.

Walter is survived by his sister Mary (Johnson), brothers John and Bob, son Wally, Stepson Carlos, former spouse Maria (Guitart), his nieces Sarah, Braden, Emily, Eleanor, Andrea and Nadia, and his nephews Michael, Andrew, Kevin, Jimmy, and Luis.

A family memorial will be held in Minneapolis in September. 

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