Theresa Mary Schmitz Coates, 68, Newton, KS, passed away Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, KS after a sudden illness. She was born January 7, 1958 at St. Luke's Hospital in Newburgh, New York. She was the daughter of Matthew G. MTC (SS) USN Retired and Jo Ann (Gauquie) Schmitz.

She graduated from Valley Central High School in 1976 in Montgomery, New York.  She studied accountancy and graduated from Hutchinson Community College in 2000 in Hutchinson, Kansas.

She had worked for Mid-Kansas Cooperative (MKC) in Whitewater, KS as a Scale Specialist from 2000 until she retired.

She married Jack Timberger in 1976 and later she married Fredrick Reynolds. In 2001, she married Tim Coates. Tim Coates preceded her in death on July 19, 2010.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Jo Ann (Gauquie) Schmitz; a brother, Charles A. Schmitz Sr, and a cousin, Paul Gauquie. Theresa joins past family members in eternal rest. She is the granddaughter of the late Louis and Janet (Jagodrinski) Gauquie of Newburgh, New York and Genevieve (Jean Wotjkowski) and Matthew Schmitz of Newburgh, New York., and the great-granddaughter of the late John and Anna (Klepperich) Schmitz of Germany, Adam F and Mary (Slepowronski) Wojtkowski of New Jersey USA and Poland, Joannes (Jules)  and Anne (Larson) Gauquie of Salisbury Mills, New York USA, Belgium, Denmark and finally Apolonius Jagodrinski of New York City, New York and Poland and Bronislaw (Ostrzyski) Jagodrinski of Newburgh, New York and Poland.

Survivors include her daughter, Jessica A. (Timberger) Chase of Plattsburgh, New York and  her grandchildren Ronald and Jayden; daughter Rebecca (Stacy) Greenhaw of Morrisonville, New York and her grandchildren Taylor (Michael) and Paige; April (Richard) Clark of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and her grandchildren Mackenzie and Alexis; a sister, Genevieve James of North Carolina and her nephews Thomas James III and Steven James; Debra (Ralph) Flatt of New Jersey and her nephew Eric Pellegrini; her sister-in-law Kathryn Schmitz and her nephew Charlie Adam Jr, and her sister Jo Ann (Brett) Fitzgerald of Melbourne, Australia.  In addition, she has many cousins in many US states and Europe.

Cremation will take place at Baker Funeral Home, Wichita, Kansas.

Funeral Services will be private. We thank Baker Funeral Home for their help with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.bakerfhwichita.com or at ofmyfleshandblood.blogspot.com/p/theresa-m-schmitz.html.