Donald Shmauz

Shmauz, Donald MADISON/MILWAUKEE-Don Shmauz passed away from the complications of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, at his home, surrounded by his loving friends. Don was a Catholic priest, a master psychotherapist and healer, a trainer of therapists and clergy, and a great friend, who loved, cherished, and guided many people. In turn, he was loved and cherished by countless people locally and throughout the country. Don was born in Milwaukee on March 14, 1933, attended schools in the Milwaukee area, then entered the Catholic seminary and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood on May 28, 1960. He served as an assistant pastor at Corpus Christi Parish in Milwaukee, became a chaplain at the Wisconsin School for Boys at Wales, and finally transferred as a chaplain to the Mendota Mental Health Institution in Madison. Don retired from Mendota in 1996, but continued his ministry and therapeutic work until the onset of his illness. While he was a chaplain, Don also became a clinical pastoral education (CPE) supervisor, who trained clergy in pastoral care. In addition, he also became a noted psychotherapist and trained many other therapists to become better healers. Don's specialty was Self Acceptance Healing (SAH). He practiced and taught this holistic brand of therapy throughout the Midwest area. The combination of his deep sense of spirituality and his therapeutic expertise was a healing experience for hundreds of people whose lives were irrevocably changed by his intervention. As a therapist, Don had the gift of being present to people exactly as they were, without judgment, then leading them through the tangle of their own unhealed past to a sense of emotional and spiritual healing. But he was more than a priest and a therapist. Don was capable of deep human love that he shared with many. He always tried to create family and community wherever he was. Don ran a foster home for delinquent boys for several years while he was a chaplain at Wales Boys School, raised several young men through their teenage years, became a lifelong father figure to several of these boys, and also to some of his clients. In 1990, he adopted an 11 year old Korean boy who is now a successful adult living on the West coast. Along with his general love of humanity, Don had special intimate friends with whom he shared his home, his life, and his love. They hope to carry on his work and his legacy. Don is survived by his adopted son, Tomas, who lives in Los Angeles, Calif. with his wife, Miae; and many relatives in the Milwaukee/Madison area and in other parts of the country. He will be missed by his beloved friends, Frank, Syl and Jim, who cared for him during his final illness; his brothers in the priesthood; his grateful clients; and his many friends, too numerous to list. Don was preceded in death by his father and mother, Anthony and Esther; and his younger brother, Roger. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. ANTHONY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, N74 W13604 Appleton Ave., Menomonee Falls, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009, with the Most Rev. Richard Sklba presiding. Entombment will follow at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at SCHMIDT & BARTELT FUNERAL HOME, N84 W17937 Menomonee Ave., Menomonee Falls, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., with a Scripture service at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, and at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Don's honor may be sent to Hackett Hemwall Foundation, www.hacketthemwall.org or FCPE, Foundation for Clinical Pastoral Education, www.foundationforcpe.org. We give special thanks to all of Don's caregivers, the hospice staff, Dr. Jeffrey Patterson, and all the people who supported us during his illness. A Memorial Service will be held at ST. PETER'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5001 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. Don was truly a man who was very human and very spiritual, who lived a life of generosity and love, and who taught others to do the same. We will miss you, Don. But we will carry on, as you taught us, as creatures "of love and light." Gunderson EastFuneral & Cremation Centers5203 Monona Drive(608) 221-5420www.gundersonfh.com Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials in Don's honor may be sent to Hackett Hemwall Foundation, www.hacketthemwall.org or FCPE, Foundation for Clinical Pastoral Education, www.foundationforcpe.org. Cemetery: Entombment will follow at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation: Visitation will be held at SCHMIDT & BARTELT FUNERAL HOME, N84 W17937 Menomonee Ave., Menomonee Falls, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., with a Scripture service at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, and at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Tuesday. Service: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. ANTHONY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, N74 W13604 Appleton Ave., Menomonee Falls, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009, with the Most Rev. Richard Sklba presiding.