Marianne Lee Stoecker Schmitt, 71, passed away after a brief illness, on October 7, 2023, at the Apostolic Christian Home in Sabetha, Kansas with her family by her side. Marianne was born to Lawrence and Betty (Lehmann) Stoecker on August 5, 1952, in Oakley, Kansas. She was the middle child with two brothers, David and Gary. Marianne grew up on the family farm south of Oakley where she would attend many family gatherings with aunts, uncles, and cousins from western Kansas. Marianne attended the Oakley schools and graduated from Oakley High School in 1970.
Marianne attended Kansas State University, where she would meet her husband, and lifelong Wildcat fan companion, Mike Schmitt. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, major in accounting, in 1974. After college, Marianne worked in the tax department for Arthur Anderson in Kansas City, Missouri from 1974 to 1975.
Marianne married Mike Schmitt on August 9, 1975, in Oakley, Kansas at the First United Methodist Church. They briefly lived in Fairview, Kansas before moving to Hiawatha, Kansas in 1976.
Marianne passed the CPA exam and became a licensed Certified Public Accountant. She worked for L Rance Hixson, CPA in Hiawatha for a few years before starting her own CPA firm in Hiawatha with a sole practice providing tax work for clients. She retired from her practice in 2020.
Along the way, she had two sons; Jason Schmitt born August 31, 1979, and Daniel Schmitt born April 28, 1985. She was a loving wife to her husband Mike for 48 years. She was always present and active in her sons’ activities growing up in Hiawatha. For the past twelve years, Marianne was a loving Grandma to Lauren Schmitt (12) and Charlotte Schmitt (8), daughters of Jason and Tina (Hoobler) Schmitt. She enjoyed attending the girls’ dance recitals and sporting events, sewing the girls’ outfits, and partaking in many crafts projects with the granddaughters.
Aside from helping the residents and farmers of northeast Kansas with their tax planning, Marianne lived a full life of service, hobbies, sports, travel, and family events. Marianne attended The First United Methodist Church in Hiawatha, where she volunteered on many committees. Presently, she was on the board of the Morrill Public Library in Hiawatha, and a current member of the PEO Hiawatha Chapter. She was a past member of the Brown County Developmental Services board and a supporter to the Hiawatha Community Hospital. She spent several years dedicating her time to the community by sitting as an elected member of the Hiawatha City Commission. She also found time to participate in women’s golf and tennis leagues and served on various other committees dedicated to the community. Marianne loved to be in her garden. Most recently, she was tending to the flowers at the “Welcome to Hiawatha” signs as you enter the town.
Marianne loved to travel. She enjoyed many years attending Kansas State University athletic events in both Manhattan, Kansas and on the road at away team schools. She enjoyed many trips with the family, skiing in Colorado in the winter and enjoying Colorado during the summertime. Marianne and Mike enjoyed visiting as many National Parks as they could get to as well as visiting Europe during the summers. She also enjoyed trips back to Oakley, Kansas to visit with family and friends.
Marianne was preceded in death by her father Lawrence Stoecker and her mother Betty Stoecker, both of Oakley, KS. Marianne is survived by her husband, Mike Schmitt of Hiawatha, KS; her son Jason (Tina) Schmitt of Overland Park, KS and granddaughters Lauren Schmitt and Charlotte Schmitt; her son Daniel Schmitt of West Hollywood, CA; her brother David (Rita) Tripp of Leawood, KS; her brother Gary (Mary) Stoecker of Oakley, KS. Nieces Megan Tripp, Jessica (Dan) Tripp Bates, Michelle (Cole) Stoecker Zimmerman. Nephews Mark Stoecker and John Stoecker. Brother-in-law Pat (Terri) Schmitt of Overland Park, KS. And many cousins, and a host of friends.
Funeral Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Hiawatha Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. Pastor Dan Norwood will officiate. Interment will follow at the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Hiawatha.
Friends may call the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home after 10 a.m. Thursday until 5 p.m. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. -8 p.m. Friday, October 13, 2023 at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha.
