Two years after his wife’s death, David Schmitz was just starting to piece his life back together. He’d met another woman, for one, and they’d recently made plans to tie the knot, too. Shortly after David got engaged, however, he received an unusual phone call that rocked his world.
Back in January 2011, Brenda Schmitz’s universe fell apart when she discovered that she was suffering from stage four ovarian cancer. And, tragically, the disease was terminal, meaning that she didn’t have much time left to spend with her four children and husband David.
Indeed, while describing her diagnosis to Des Moines, Iowa, radio station STAR 102.5 in 2013, David said of the crushing news, “[Brenda] was dealt a big blow.” However, rather than wasting the rest of her life being bitter, Brenda accepted her fate with grace.
In fact, the doting mom’s biggest concern was how her family would cope once she was gone. As a result, she wanted David to find happiness with someone else after her passing; she even actively encouraged him to go out looking for another woman.
And while recounting a conversation he’d had with Brenda during her illness, David confirmed that his late wife had indeed wanted him to find someone to share his life with. He told CNN in 2013, “Brenda and I talked before she passed. She told me to meet someone that would love the boys and treat them like her own.”
David continued, “I asked her how I’d know when I met that person. Brenda said I would know because she’d be there.” With everything that was happening in David’s life, though, finding new love may have been the last thing on his mind.
