Dan Schatz

Dan Schatz, 93, Mott, formerly of Bismarck, ND, passed away on Saturday morning, September 10, 2011, at the Good Samaritan Society in Mott, ND. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 am Friday, September 16, 2011, at Church of St. Anne, Bismarck, with Rev. Ed Wehner and Rev. Charles Zins officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Bismarck. Visitation will be held from 2:00 pm until 8:00 pm Thursday, September 15, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, where a rosary/vigil will begin at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Daniel was born December 27, 1917, in Logan County, the son of Gaberiel and Benedicta Wangler Schatz. He attended school through the eighth grade. Dan served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938. He married Margaret Doll on June 12, 1939, at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Kinytre, ND. After living on two farms, Dan bought a farm in Cleveland, ND, in November 1944. Dan and Margaret had six children, Agatha, George, Stanislaus, Anton, Magdalena and Joseph. In April 1959, Dan and Margaret sold the farm and moved to Bismarck, ND. He worked in construction for about 15 years. Margaret passed away on January 2, 1965. Daniel remarried on September 23, 1965, to Cecelia Backmeier Mathern in Aberdeen, SD. Cecelia brought six children to this marriage. Dan worked at the ND Highway Department in Bismarck until he retired in 1975. Dan enjoyed fishing and showing the grandkids how to do it "right." He enjoyed camping, auction sales, watching the Twins, and playing cards. Pinochle was his game and he had a deck of cards in his back pocket most of the time. Dan was a member of Church of St. Anne, Bismarck, and also of St. Francis de Sales in Steele, ND. He was an active member of the Lion's Club and Senior Citizens in Sterling and Steele. Dan also prided himself on donating blood. Dan, after living in Sterling for 16 years, moved to Steele in 2007. In February 2008, Dan moved to Mott Good Samaritan Society to be closer to his daughter. Dan is survived by his daughter, Maggie Schatz Banyai, Mott, ND; four sons, George Schatz, Mandan, ND, Stan Helen Schatz, West Fargo, ND, Tony Gail Schatz, Mandan, ND, and Joe Beverly Schatz, Bismarck, ND; six step children, Elizabeth John Pittarelli, Des Moines, IA, Andrew "Jerry" Mathern, Minneapolis, MN, Mary Jane Albert Andres, Medina, ND, Joan Wesley Trittin, Hankinson, ND, Alvin Vetter, Moffit, ND, and Beverly Bleken, Grand Forks, ND; 25 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren; one brother, Karl Carol Schatz, Kettle River, MN; two sisters-in-law, Laurene Schatz, Concord, CA, and Anna Schatz, Napoleon, ND. He was preceded in death by his parents; two wives, Margaret on January 2, 1965 and Cecelia in April 21, 2001; one infant daughter, Agatha; one toddler sister, Katherine; six brothers and four sisters-in-law, Frank Helen Schatz, Andrew Frances Schatz, Anton Schatz, Clemece Minnie Schatz, Alois Schatz, and Joe Rose Schatz; one stepdaughter, Alice Marie Vetter; two sons-in-law, Glen Bleken and Leslie Banyai; and two great-grandsons, Jesse and Michael.

Dan Schatz

December 27, 1917 - September 10, 2011