Ambrose Schmitz, 83, of Seneca, Kansas, died Monday, May 28, 2012 at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka.

Ambrose was born on July 3, 1928, on the family farmstead, north of St. Benedict, the son of John L. and Mary Oenbring Schmitz. He attended St. Mary’s Grade School in St. Benedict and graduated from 8th grade. After school he helped on the family farm.

In 1952, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served from July to November, when he was called home to take over the family farm. The family farm held great meaning to Ambrose, and he lived there 83 years of his life.

Ambrose married Mary Ann Boeckman on February 14, 1953 at St. Bede’s Catholic Church in Kelly. After marriage they lived on the Schmitz family homestead north of St. Benedict where they farmed and raised their family. In the fall of 2011 they moved to Seneca where they had built a home. Ambrose and Mary Ann celebrated 59 years of marriage.

He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict, St. Mary’s Parish Council, the St. Joseph Society at the church, and the Knights of Columbus Council #1769 in Seneca. In addition, he was on the Board of Trustees for the Clear Creek Township for many years and for eight years served on the USD 451 School Board.

Ambrose loved to play cards and watch KU basketball and KC Royals baseball games. He took pride in restoring family antiques, collecting toy tractors, fishing, and making homebrew and wine. However, one of his greatest pleasures was watching his grandchildren in their activities.

Survivors are his wife Mary Ann of the home; a son, Leonard of Seneca; five daughters: Jody and Stephen Niehues of Topeka and their children, Brad (Jamie) and Aaron and their great-grandchildren, Grant and Morgan Niehues; Grace and Alan Knott of Omaha, Nebraska, and their children, Ashley and Zachary Knott; Monica and Len Marousek of Omaha, and their children, Jake and Sammi Marousek; Armella and Stephan Tangeman of Olathe and their children, Alex and Joey Tangeman; and Mary Ellen Conroy (fiancé Steve Bowhay) of Pawnee City, Nebraska and her children Dustin Holthaus, Corey Holthaus and Sarah Conroy; and a sister, Rosella Bergman of Seneca.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by seven brothers, Vincent, Paul, Silverius, Ed, Virgil, Francis and John Schmitz; a sister, Mary Reinecke; and a granddaughter, Emily Dawn Tangeman.

Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 AM Friday, June 1, at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Thursday, May 31, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given in Ambrose’s memory for St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict.