Marge Schmitz and her husband, Paul, own and operate the clock shop in the Village of Merton called Gift of Time. Together, they have been proudly serving the Lake Country area by repairing and selling clocks for nearly 30 years. They repair almost every type of clock and still make house calls for grandfather clocks. Their showroom also features a variety of new clocks for sale as well. Make sure to catch the glockenspiel outside their shop during most summer afternoon business days.
About Marge Schmitz
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
Paul and I have been married for 58 years and are so proud to have two wonderful children, Paula and Chad.
Q: Please tell us about your life and what you do (whether working in our community, a business owner, volunteer, etc.). How did you choose that path?
Paul and I are so blessed to have created so many memories in the Lake Country area since we were married 58 years ago in Pewaukee. Soon after we got married, Paul completed his service in the National Guard and then served on the Pewaukee Police Department. After Paul transitioned into another career, we moved to the Village of Merton in 1971, where Paul proudly volunteered on the Merton Fire Department. We have been blessed to have raised our family in the Lake Country area and we were blessed again to have transitioned into our dream business of clock repair.
Our journey began when Paul lost his mother. Her cherished heirloom antique mantel clock stopped working and we could not find anyone to fix this special clock. So, Paul began tinkering with it and soon had it running again and restored to its previous working condition. This sparked a passion and desire to learn more about clocks and clock repair. We both enrolled in the horology course of study at Milwaukee Area Technical College in 1984, which is the study of timekeeping and clock repair. We were also fortunate to find a mentor in clock repair and soon began an apprenticeship. We repaired clocks professionally for 10 years out of our home. Then our dream of opening a clock shop was realized when we bought the former Marine One Bank building in the Village of Merton in 1996. We have been proudly serving the Lake Country area since.
Q: What do you love most about what you do?
I love meeting people and being a small part of their life by being entrusted with their family heirloom.
Q: What was the most difficult challenge in getting to where you are now or in your life?
Learning all the different aspects of running a small business, such as accounting, advertising and bookkeeping.
Q: What is the most rewarding part?
Seeing the reactions of customers when they see their cherished clock being brought back to life. In fact, some people leave our shop in tears because their clock means so much to them.
Q: What are some of your future goals? Do you have anything exciting coming up that you would like to share?
We’re approaching our 30th year in business, which we’re excited for and proud about.
Q: What advice would you give to someone interested in doing something similar to what you have done/are doing?
Find someone to apprentice under. Repairing clocks professionally requires so much more than just taking a few classes or even completing a whole course of study on clock repair.
Marge Schmitz & Our Community
Q: What is your favorite thing about our community, favorite thing to do, or something unique about our community that you love? (Feel free to share as much as you’d like!)
My favorite thing about our community is the friendly people.
Q: Do you have a favorite coffee shop, cocktail shop, or restaurant?
We love the fish fry at the Golden Mast and celebratory meals at Johnny Manhattan’s.
Q: What 3 words would you use to describe our community?
Hopeful, inspiring and extraordinary.
For Fun
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
My husband and I founded and ran a German folk fest in Merton. The first year we had the fest in front of our store. It got so big that we had to eventually move it down the road to the Fireman’s Park in subsequent years. We had so much fun with it, but it got to be too much, so we stopped doing it after four years.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My husband inspires me. He has been a great example to keep on dreaming and to believe that anything is possible. He has worked so hard his whole life and tries to give back when he can.
Q: If you were a drink (can be a coffee drink, alcoholic, non-alcoholic, etc.), what would you be?
Lemonade.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone, who would it be with? Why?
My Aunt Lou because she was always there for me and like a mother to me.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A trip to Hawaii.
Q: What makes you the happiest?
Spending time with my family.
Q: Any general life advice you would like to share?
Be kind to everyone.
Where to Find Marge Schmitz
Email: customerservice@giftoftimeclocks.com
Phone: (262) 538-8463
