Man behind Deerfields Bakery had true passion for the business

Henry Schmitt was a third generation baker, who brought recipes developed by his father and grandfather in Germany to the suburban bakery business he built with his sons and grandchildren: Deerfields Bakery.

Mr. Schmitt, a Libertyville resident, died Thursday after a long illness. He was 92.

"He was a certified master baker, and as patriarch of the family he brought not only the recipes, but the passion for the business," says his grandson, Tim Schmitt, who took over as president of Deerfields Bakery in February.

"He really wanted to create the total experience for customers," his grandson adds. "He wanted them to experience all the sights, smells and even sounds of the bakery once they walked in the door."

Deerfields Bakery was voted best bakery this year by Daily Herald readers, after earning the national title of Retail Bakery of the Year, last year by Baking Buyer magazine.

Its inventory includes thousands of baked goods, including some of Mr. Schmitt's specialties, such as German chocolate cake, a German chocolate chip coffeecake, and his favorite, a traditional stollen fruitcake made during the Christmas holidays.

Mr. Schmitt's father came over from Germany in 1911. He opened his first bakery in Chicago, calling it New York Bakery as a tribute to his entry through Ellis Island.

As a young man, Mr. Schmitt worked in the bakery, before serving in World War II. When he returned, he bought the business and in the 1950s, opened a larger location on Irving Park Road, changing its name to Schmitt's Bake Shop.

At its height, he owned as many as 32 bakeries in Chicago, Tim Schmitt says, all bearing the name of the Schmitt's Bake Shop. One of its specialties, the Queen Liz Torte, was developed in 1959 during Queen Elizabeth's visit to Chicago.

The three-layered yellow cake features fillings with fresh strawberries and Bavarian cream, and is surrounded by lady fingers and topped with a single jeweled strawberry, giving it the appearance of a crown.

By 1963, however, the Schmitt family had to declare bankruptcy after over extending itself with too many locations. Mr. Schmitt went to work for some competing family bakeries, before he bought Deerfields Bakery in 1972.

At the time, he and his son, Kurt, lived above the shop in downtown Deerfield, working nearly around the clock to grow the business. Within a few years, another son, Karl, and daughter, Kathi, joined them.

In 1993, Mr. Schmitt realized a dream when he and his sons opened a second location, in Buffalo Grove.

"It was a sweet dream for him, to be able to expand to a full service, full production facility, and see his whole family involved," says his wife, Marilyn.

Mr. Schmitt worked with his son, Kurt, on the custom woodwork in the bakery, designing it to look like a Bavarian ski chalet. His sons and grandchildren soon put their imprint on the business, opening up the coffee bar and cafe within the bakery. They opened the Schaumburg location in 2000.

Besides his wife and grandson, Mr. Schmitt is survived by his three children: Kathi Wendell of Texas; Karl (Mary Pat) Schmitt of Deerfield and Kurt Schmitt of Schaumburg; as well as six grandchildren and two great grandchildren

Visitation begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday until a 7 p.m. funeral service, both at Dane Funeral Home, 120 W. Park Ave. in Libertyville.