Lenoda "Node" Schmitz

Lenoda “Node” Elaine Schmitz, 86 of Waunakee, passed away peacefully on January 22,2025 with family by her side. She was born October 4,1938 in Tomah, WI the daughter of Alwin and Leona Graewin. She was the youngest of four children with three older brothers. She spent her childhood in Tomah. After graduation she moved to Madison. One of her first jobs in Madison was at the telephone company where she worked for several years. In 1968 the family moved to Waunakee where she raised her three kids – Lori, Scott and Mike. She was fortunate to also have ten grandkids that all grew up in the area.

Node was a homemaker while her kids were young. When her youngest was in middle school, she started working at the elementary school as a playground attendant for a couple hours a day. Eventually she became a teacher’s assistant in both middle and high school. When she wasn’t at school, she was a reading tutor for many local children. She retired in 1999.

Node was an excellent cook: she should have started her own catering business. She enjoyed hosting parties and holidays, and her presentations were beautiful. She made the holidays and birthdays very special for her kids. At Christmas she made hundreds of various cookies and candies. One of our favorite things she did was to create a handwritten cookbook for her kids to enjoy.

Summer was always her favorite season. She loved sitting in the sun, decorating her yard and planting flowers. She had one of the most beautiful yards in town. She enjoyed her fishpond, gazebo, birds and taking great care of her flowers and lawn. People would often walk or drive down the alley just to see it. She was even featured in the Waunakee Garden Tour in 2003.

When Fall came around, she enjoyed watching the Badgers and Packers play football on TV. She also liked Badger basketball and was always wearing the appropriate sports attire. As it got colder, Node enjoyed antiquing, flea markets and auctions. She was a collector; she collected antique dishware, Hummels and especially dolls. She had a massive collection of vintage dolls and accessories of all varieties.

Node moved to Home Again in February 2022. She made some good friends there and renewed some old friendships. She enjoyed the caring and friendly staff. She really enjoyed the social activities at Home Again and loved going to movies, doing crafts, puppy visits and decorating her apartment and “yard”. Node always had a bowl of chocolates outside her door as she wanted to provide treats for the CNA’s that she saw every day. When she wasn’t participating in the activities at Home Again, Node loved to color beautiful intricate pictures. She had her colored pencils and coloring books always by her side. She would have the pictures laminated and give them to friends and family as gifts.

Node was proceeded in death by her parents, Alwin and Leona Graewin, brothers Gerald Graewin and Alwin “Sonny” Graewin. She is survived by her brother Ronald (Dianne) Graewin , children Lori (Peter Bergmann) Schmitz, Scott (Kara) Schmitz, Mike (Cindy) Schmitz; grandchildren Javier Flores, Alexa (Tanner) Hayes, Quinn (Christine) Schmitz, Molly Schmitz, Emmy Schmitz, Ryan Schmitz, Samantha Schmitz, Gabrielle Schmitz, Victoria Schmitz, Josephine Schmitz; nephews and niece, Jeff(Ruth) Graewin, David (Shelly) Graewin, and Shannon (Chris) Nohl.

Special thanks to Dr William Ranum for his loving care over the years and Bobbie, Robin and the amazing staff at Home Again who made her life special. Thank you also to Agrace Hospice for all their help during her last days.

Friends and family may join us February 1, 2025 at Winn- Cress Funeral Home, 5785 Hwy Q, Waunakee. Visitation will be from 2:00 pm until 3:00 pm with the funeral service to follow.

We love you mom.

All gifts will be donated to Home Again in Waunakee’s activity fund to help enrich the lives of their residents.

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com

Winn-Cress Funeral Home

 5785 Hwy Q

 Waunakee, WI