Captain Joseph Raymond Schmitz, CD was born on 23 March 1918 in Rayside, Saskatchewan, the son of Theodore Schmitz and Laura Margaret Becker.

In March 1944 he married Hazel Margaret Sorenson, and they had two sons and a daughter.

Schmitz served throughout the European campaign in the Second World War with The Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and later with The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. He was a Korean War veteran as well.

He was also the founding Curator of the Regimental Museum at the Regimental Depot in Calgary from 1956-1969 when it moved to Toronto.

He became the head of the Glenbow Alberta Institute’s military department and a program organizer after his retirement from the military.

Schmitz retired from the Canadian Army in 1965 and served on the Calgary Citizens Centennial Committee in 1966-67, a member of the South Calgary Rotary Club, a volunteer member of the Calgary Stampede Board and a President of the Calgary branch of the Historical Society.

After a long illness, Captain Schmitz died on 20 November 1975 in Calgary, Alberta, aged 57.

Service Record:

• 1934-1937 – Private, Prince Albert Volunteers
• 1937-1942 – Private to Regimental Sergeant Major, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI)
• 1943-1944 – Lieutenant, OCTU
• 1944-1945 – Lieutenant, PPCLI
• 1945-1947 – Captain, Royal Winnipeg Rifles and PPCLI
• 1948-1951 – Officer Commanding 50th Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers (Militia)
• 1951-1952 – Officers Commanding F Company, Royal Regina Rifles
• 1952-1954 – 2nd Canadian Rifles
• 1954-1965 – Adjutant, Regimental Depot, The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada
• 1957 – Awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration
• 1965 20 Aug – Retired to Reserves