Dr. James William Schatz died August 21, 2021 in Springfield, MO. He was born April 26, 1935 in St. James, MO to James Arthur Schatz and Margaret Agnes Jirik Schatz while his father was working as a timekeeper for road building crews. He grew up on the Schatz family farm in Billings, MO. Jim graduated from St. Joseph Elementary School in Billings, attended St. Agnes H.S. in Springfield for 1 year and graduated as valedictorian from Billings H.S.  He then attended SW Missouri State College (now MSU), earning enough credits in 3 years to be admitted to dental school. Jim graduated with his DDS in 1960 from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

Margaret Ann Becker Schatz died April 20, 2022 in Springfield, MO. She was born June 26, 1940 in Green Bay, WI to Eugene John Becker and Ann(a) Margaret Schneider Becker. The family moved to Kansas City, MO in 1949 where she graduated from Bishop Hogan H.S. She then attended Donnelly College/St Mary's Hospital School of Nursing, earning her LPN.

Jim & Margaret met in 1957 at a dance that was arranged for the dental and nursing schools' students. They married December 26, 1959 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Kansas City and moved to Springfield, MO where Jim started his private dental practice after graduation the following May. Jim continued his practice in Springfield as well as opening and operating a second practice in Seymour, MO for several years. He retired in 2000. Family, faith and education were their priorities and they raised 4 children, Donna, Bob, Kathy & Linda in the Catholic faith. All attended Immaculate Conception elementary school and graduated from Springfield Catholic H.S.

They lived for 42 years in the "house on Lindberg" that Jim designed and had built for the anticipated family and we "kids" lucked out in the parent lottery. The family camped at the lake and on numerous trips in a pop up camper on adventures across the U.S. & into Canada. Jim and Margaret continued traveling over the years, eventually to all 50 states and internationally to 34 countries. They enjoyed working on genealogical research and on one trip to Germany, visited the areas of their ancestry. Jim was proud of the Schatz genealogy book that he researched with a cousin and published.

Their lives of service began for Margaret in the Girls Scouts and for Jim as an Eagle in Boy Scouts, participating in FAA and in ROTC. They helped in their childrens' scout troops and school projects and Jim was exceptionally proud to help his sole grandson with his Eagle Scout project. The list of joint and individual organizations with which they volunteered is long and included Immaculate Conception Church, Holy Trinity Church, La Leche League for 17 years, Couple to Couple League as natural family planning instructors for 29 years, Missouri Right to Life, Voice for Life, Vitae Foundation, Knights of Columbus, the Springfield Host Lions Club & the duck pond at the fair, the Smile Program dental truck, the Greater Springfield Dental Society, Mercy Hospital, and The League of Women Voters. Margaret taught computers to seniors with the ICON group and was proud to have served on Governor John Ashcroft's task force on teen pregnancy.

In their "spare time" they loved spending time with friends. They enjoyed season tickets to Little Theatre, SMS/SMSU/MSU Bears, Lady Bears basketball games since its inception and later to Drury U basketball.

They were preceded in death by their parents, their daughter Kathleen Schatz Minor in 1992, Jim's newborn brother, and Margaret's brother, Warren Becker.

They are survived by 3 children and their families: daughter Donna and John Pinney, son Robert (Bob) and Rebecca (Becky) Schatz, daughter Linda and Christopher (Chris) McClay; grandson Sean and Jennifer McClay, granddaughters Elizabeth and Keegan Kimbrough, Ryann and Tony Campbell, Megan and David Mann, Kersten Schatz, Bethany Schatz, and Rachel McClay; great-grandchildren Daniel Kimbrough and Madelin Kimbrough. Margaret is survived by her sisters, Mary and Mark Langseth, Bernita Centeno, sister-in-law Patricia Becker, and four nephews.

The past 7 years had been a challenge for Jim and Margaret. Jim was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and Margaret with a different neurological disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. She has chosen to assist in the research of this disease that affects only about .006% of the population by donating tissue to the Mayo Clinic Brain Bank. The family wishes to thank the loving caregivers for their parents: James River Care Center, Jacob's Care and Jacob's Ladder, Morningside East Assisted Living, Phoenix Hospice and Seasons Hospice.

Visitation will be Thursday, April 28, 2022 starting with a Rosary at 6:00 p.m. at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, 1947 East Seminole Street, Springfield, MO.  A memorial Mass will be celebrated by Reverend Patrick Ike Nwokoye on Friday, April 29th at 2 p.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 2818 E Bennett Street, Springfield, MO. Interment of ashes will be at a later date at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Billings, MO next to Jim's parents and infant brother.

Memorial contributions may be made to LifeHouse Crisis Maternity Home, Holy Trinity Church or a charity of the donor's choosing.

Donations of old eyeglasses and hearing aids will be accepted at the visitation. They will be donated to The Lion's Club to help them improve quality of life globally for people who are blind, visually impaired and hearing impaired.