John Schmidt

John Frederick Schmidt

Born on February 15, 1928 died on February 17, 2025 at the age of 97. He was born in Gillespie, Illinois to William E. and Florence Schmidt. He was the youngest of five children, Virginia Schmidt, Bud Schmidt, Lucille Barton, and Marjorie Harper.

He was well schooled and received degrees from Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Kansas. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

He married the love of his life, Peggy Schmidt on November 5, 1950. They had three children,
John F. Schmidt Jr who died of health complications as an infant, Susan Schmidt Hilkemeyer (Stan) from Tucson and Thomas S Schmidt (Jenny) from Columbia, Illinois. Also- Four GRANDchildren, Scott, Tim, Emily and Daniel, and four (almost 5, due in June) GREAT grandchildren.

John and Peg celebrated 65 years of marriage in 2015 prior to Peg’s death in 2016.

John was a dedicated businessman and worked for Columbia Quarry Company until he retired in 1998 at the age of 70. He and Peg lived in Belleville, Illinois for 25 years. They were instrumental in helping to create the SCHMIDT Art Center at Southwest Illinois College.

John developed and maintained the William E. and Florence Schmidt Charitable Foundation which was later renamed the Schmidt-Barton Family Fund. Charities across the United States have benefited from donations and grants from this fund.

After he retired, he and Peg moved to the retirement community of Saddlebrooke, Arizona and enjoyed a fun and busy life with new friends as well as family nearby.

He and Peg loved collecting art and loved to travel.

John was straight as an arrow, church-going, plus kind and generous, funny and friendly. He was passionate about physical fitness and was “in to” health food (smoothies, granola, and vitamins) in the 60’s…before it became mainstream. He worked out daily until he was well in to his 90’s!

No services are planned. His final resting place will be in Carlinville, Illinois, along with Peg and baby son JFS Jr.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to your favorite charity. That would make him happy!